Finch dropped from Steve Waugh's XI for Sydney Test

Former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh on Monday picked up the 'batting order from the selected squad' leaving Aaron Finch out of the side ahead of the fourth and final Domain Test against India, starting January 3.

The middle-order batsman took to his Instagram to post Waugh's XI for the Sydney Test, which saw a reshuffle of the squad. "My batting order from the selected squad for the Sydney test. #baggygreen #indiavsaustralia #leveltheseries @ourscg #marshtoplaygilchristrole," Waugh captioned.

Waugh wants Marcus Harris and Shaun Marsh to open the innings, followed by Usman Khawaja. The number four is occupied by Australia's leading run-scorer in the series against India, Travis Head, while Captain Tim Paine has been moved up two spots to bat at number five.

Next in the line comes Marnus Labuschagne, who has been added to the squad after the defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), followed by Mitchell Marsh at number seven, who has been criticised for his performance in Melbourne.

The hashtag #marshtoplaygilchristrole used by Waugh in the caption suggests that Mitchell Marsh should play with freedom and aggression just like former wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.

The bowling department comprising pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon completes Waugh's XI.

Waugh's captaincy successor Ricky Ponting, who became the 25th Australian cricketer to be formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame earlier this month, also believes Finch will be dropped for the series finale and Labuschagne will come into the starting side.

"I have seen (Marnus) Labuschagne has come into the line-up so to me straight away that means (Aaron) Finch has to miss out and Usman (Khawaja) will open the batting, I had imagined. That is how it looks-Labuschagne probably bats four, Travis Head five and Mitchell Marsh six-I think that is the way they are going to line up," Cricket Australia quoted Ponting, as saying.

"I can't really think what else they can do. The selectors and the captain and the coach have obviously had a long chat about what they want and what they expect. We will see how they line up," he added.

Australia will face a must-win situation at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) after having lost the Boxing-Day Test in Melbourne, while a 2-1 up India will eye to win their first series in Australia.