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[GoodLeave]

A composite XI certainly would.  I had a play round with this, as there are lots of either/ors (the combination of spinners is particularly difficult) - for Indian conditions, based on what I've seen in the last two year cycle, I would go:

Cook
Warner
Root
Smith
Bairstow
Stokes
Handscomb
Starc
Cummins
Rashid/O'Keefe
Lyon

There are a couple of grey areas - as noted above, the second spinner is a difficult pick, and depends a lot on whether you want to block an end, in which case O'keefe, or attack - in which case Rashid gives third/fourth innings options.  A couragious alternative would be to pick neither, going instead for Hazlewood, and replace Handscomb with Moeen.

Sure. But swap Handscomb for Woakes. 3rd seamer.

[WalkingWicket37]

Using @Manormanic's side as a base

Cook
Warner Hameed (I know this may be a controversial selection)
Root
Smith*
Maxwell
Stokes
Bairstow+
Handscomb Woakes
Starc
Cummins Rashid/O'Keefe Lyon
Hazlewood

[Manormanic]

SOK

Sure. But swap Handscomb for Woakes. 3rd seamer.

No.  I reckon Cummins, Starc, Stokes is enough and if you did want a fourth seamer, as I noted, you would tend to go for Hazlewood and bolster the batting with Ali ahead of SOK or Rashid.

[Manormanic]

Using @Manormanic's side as a base

Cook
Warner Hameed (I know this may be a controversial selection)
Root
Smith*
Maxwell
Stokes
Bairstow+
Handscomb Woakes
Starc
Cummins Rashid/O'Keefe Lyon
Hazlewood

I can understand why you might consider the Big Show - but to bat him ahead of YJB and Stokes?  Really?

[WalkingWicket37]

I can understand why you might consider the Big Show - but to bat him ahead of YJB and Stokes?  Really?

More to do with Stoke's preference of batting at 6, and giving YJB an adequate rest before batting after keeping.
It was more the only place I could slot him in, rather than "he's better than those two"

[ProCricketer1982]

Hameed
Renshaw
Cook
Smith
Root
bairstow
Woakes
Starc
Cummings
Hazelwood
Lyon

Nice solid start then powerful middle order and the bowlers have two wicket takers and two donkey work economy bowlers

Then the best spinner from the two teams

Bairstow is the only option as wk from the two teams

[GoodLeave]

SOK
No.  I reckon Cummins, Starc, Stokes is enough and if you did want a fourth seamer, as I noted, you would tend to go for Hazlewood and bolster the batting with Ali ahead of SOK or Rashid.

I see your point, but right now, I'd want my spinning options to be SOK & Lyon. Didnt see Stokes up there in the order though, so you're right, Woakes would be 4th seamer. Can't see the advantage of part time spin right now, everyone seems to be getting tonked.

[Alvaro]

Hameed
Cook
Smith
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Cummins
Starc
O'Keefe
Lyon

[Felix Tito]

Woakes? You guys on the sauce? He was embarrassingly rubbish during the England series.

[Felix Tito]

Renshaw
Root
Smith (c)
Handscomb
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes
Maxwell
Starc
Cummins
O'Keefe
Hazlewood

4 seamers, a pair of all rounders(Stokes and Maxwell) and an end blocking spinner. Right/left batting opening partnership.

[LateBloomer]

Woakes? You guys on the sauce? He was embarrassingly rubbish during the England series.

Did you ever answer what your hometown club was?

[WalkingWicket37]

Did you ever answer what your hometown club was?

He has to decide if he's a South African boxer, an Aussie in England or just plain English first....

[sanredrose]

Renshaw
Root
Smith (c)
Handscomb
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes
Maxwell
Starc
Cummins
O'Keefe
Hazlewood

4 seamers, a pair of all rounders(Stokes and Maxwell) and an end blocking spinner. Right/left batting opening partnership.

This line up would have won only the Dharmashala test match. Lyon was key ...

[sarg]

Really enjoyed the series. Kudos to India who had the better spinners. Niggle between the teams was fascinating, but playing it out in the media was a low point. Kholi was a spud for starting that imo. The whole pitch doctoring debate was interesting too when Ranchi turned out to be the best pitch of the lot. End of the day Australia won 3/4 tosses and won one, drew one and lost the other. India won 1 toss and won that match. Playing in each others countries is not either team's strength. 

Unsure why Australia insisted on picking a all rounder in S Marsh or G Maxwell and not really use their bowling. Sure Marsh was injured in the second test and Maxwell is iffy as a spinner, but the theme was similar in Sri Lanka last season.

I really don't understand Smith's use of bowlers. All rounder is not a stopgap if a bowler breaks down and using them like this must impact on their confidence.

I feel that spot could have been more effectively used by a dedicated batsman used by Khawaja or Maxwell or even someone like Travis Head if they were primarily there to bat.

[northernboy1987]

Renshaw
Root
Smith (c)
Handscomb
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes
Maxwell
Starc
Cummins
O'Keefe
Hazlewood

4 seamers, a pair of all rounders(Stokes and Maxwell) and an end blocking spinner. Right/left batting opening partnership.

How does Cook not get in? Averages over 50 with in India with 5 tons and hasn't he scored more runs there than any non Indian?