Australia is yet to make a call on its starting XI for the fourth Test against India starting in Sydney on Thursday as captain Tim Paine mulls how best to reshuffle his batting order.

Paine says conditions will determine which members of the 14-man squad are left on the sidelines.

Even if opening batsman Aaron Finch is spared the axe, he may be demoted down the order as the hosts consider promoting No.3 Usman Khawaja to open.

India appears to be engaging in mind games, publicly drawing a line through off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s name then including the injured star in a 13-man squad.

India announced prior to captain Virat Kohli’s press conference that Ashwin, who has been sidelined with a side strain since the first Test, would not be considered for selection in the series finale.

Two hours later, the tourists preformed a U-turn and insisted Ashwin remains in the mix to return and will be assessed on Thursday morning.

India leads the four-match series 2-1.

-AAP