I may consider switching Head with Labu to make it left/right combination in top six. Ussie has to bat #3 now.

My Second Test X1:
Finch
Renshaw
Khawaja
Head
Marsh
Labuchagne
Paine
Agar
Starc
Lyon
Siddle/Neser.

Except Smith. Yes strip him of captaincy but we need his batting. His record is phenomenal

Why suddenly cant edit? Adding that Agar adds usefulness with the bat.

Ok guys who stays and who goes for the next Test?

Four blokes have cemented their spots.. Finch, Paine, Head and of course Ussie who has played his best ever innings. They wont sack the vice captain so Mitch stays. Starc stays but his returns were mediocre, Lyon did his usual job.. he stays. I will persevere with Labuchange as he has much to offer with his versatility. Renshaw in for Shaun Marsh. Agar for Holland.

would love to see maxwell and renshaw replace the marsh brothers

amazing job by everyone else!

amazing result! Hats off! Absolutely brilliant comeback

Cheers, Baggers.

What a Test!

Another player I've seen little  of before is Finch. I've rarely seen him in the Shield, because he plays limited overs for Oz. I don't even know which state he plays for? He was impressive.

I've seen Renshaw play some excellent, resolute, defensive  innings in  Asia too. He should come back in. His defensive technique looks good.

Ultimately, I'd like to see the three cheats kept out of the Aussie team for much, much longer. Their influence may have been toxic, particularly Warner's.

Smith's immaturity as a person  when he couldn't adopt a relaxed demeanour and lead in a relaxed way on the pitch, wasn't good either . Moreover, he initially suggested they got caught cheating and it was no big deal. Would he undermine Paine's authority if he returned?

It would be good to see the current team  continue to enjoy success without them. That draw was like a win. 

I think Shaun Marsh is not up to it. At his age he isn't going to improve.

Mitch probably needs his pace bowling to be as good and fast as it was a year ago  to justify his place. He isn't a good enough specialist batter.

Starc was out of form in South Africa and still is in the UAE. He is bowling at express speed, but  erratically. Cummins and Hazlewood were much better than Starc in SA.

Siddle bowled surprisingly well after a long lay off. Holland improved as the game went on. 

Labu didn't do much with the bat, but  Paine should've had Labu bowling his leggies more. He is a good fielder too.

Usman's batting was superb.

Paine captained with authority, kept wickets superbly and batted well.

Head's second innings was excellent.

Lyon was the mainstay of the attack.

I am exhausted fellars.. hitting the sack.

Totally agree on every point DC.

Agree, Baggers.

Head played one of those innings like he did in the Shield against Tassie.

Under that pressure  - no.

Let's not forget the role Head played also. He came in after the fall of those three quick wickets.

What pressure he and Ussie faced.

Test cricket at its best.

I think I counted 8 close in fielders and the wicketkeeper around Paine for the last over.

I’ve never seen it before.

After all the failures of the Oz top order it is incredible we’ve managed to draw.

Will Paine play a better innings in Test cricket than that?

YES!!!   A DRAW. Back from the dead by our boys.

We've done it!

You beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 balls to go, Paine on strike.

6 close in fielders plus the keeper around Lyon!

12 balls to go!

Can we do it?

This is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Great cricket!

I'd like to see Warner never selected again. Bancroft was displaying  technical issues anyway.

If Smith comes back he should never, ever be captain again.

Paine is a far better leader -  a much more mature bloke, without Smith's intensity and bad body language expressed to other players - and - we are playing in a better spirit. I've seen a lot  of cricket between other nations played in a good spirit between teams, rarely with the acrimony of us playing everybody else.

I want to see the current team have success, playing the game in a good spirit  - without cheating. 

5 now. Lyon going ok. He is no mug.

He certainly has been - with an element of luck when those two recent balls going over the stumps.

Only 7 overs now, Baggers.

50 for Paine - under great pressure.

50 Tim!! Great captain's knock.

I like the spirit this test has been played in.

I’ve seen Head and Usman having a laugh with Pakistani players.