Hazlewood leaves Boland out of Australia XI for first Test

Josh Hazlewood has kept Scott Boland out of the XI for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, maintaining Australia's pace-bowling hierarchy as they begin their Test marathon.

Pat Cummins confirmed an expected XI a day out from the match - as Test cricket returns to Darwin after 22 years - with Australia's first-choice attack playing together for the first time since the tour of the West Indies over a year ago.

Hazlewood has not played international cricket since last October having missed the entire Ashes with injury, while Cummins only played one game against England – his only appearance for Australia since that West Indies series. Nathan Lyon is also back after his Ashes series was cut short by the hamstring injury he picked up in Adelaide.

“I think we were pretty certain we wanted Lyno [Lyon] inside so just kind of working out what the make-up of the quicks were,” Cummins said. "So went with Joshy obviously know Scotty class." There’s always a pretty close call. “I think it’s one of those ones where there’s not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there’s a lot of cricket coming up but he knows his worth and how good he is and I’m sure he’ll be out there at some point pretty soon.

Cummins was delighted to have Lyon to call upon after the spinner missed two day-night Tests last year but starred in Adelaide to help secure the Ashes before his injury.

“I was watching some footage of that Adelaide Test the other day and I think that was the best he’s bowled in years,” Cummins said. 'So it was really bad timing [the injury] but he's been great. It’s been pretty well documented how hard he’s worked the last six months or so. He's in there every day, working, waiting for this chance. So he looks in amazing shape. He’s been bowling beautifully and as a captain and team mate it is going to be awesome to have him back out there."

Cameron Green and Beau Webster will bat together in the middle order, either side of Alex Carey, while Jake Weatherald will open with Travis Head in a pairing that was formed early in the Ashes. Carey himself recently said he would be open to a move up the order but Cummins confirmed he would remain at No. 6.

“Keza’s won us a few games with six. “I like that combination of him and Webster at six, seven,” Cummins said. "I think Greeny's a good No. 5, so you can try and get funky, but we thot that's kind of how the team will function the best. “It’s a pretty good problem to have when someone like Kez, you feel like a good bat, even higher than where he’s at.

Along with Boland, the other player from the initial squad not to make the XI is Josh Inglis.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto did not reveal his XI on the eve of the Test, citing a few “niggles” in the camp but confirmed Litton Das was fit to take his place.

Australia XI for first Test v Bangladesh

Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood