Home team Australia who are eyeing to beat India and regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are hit with multiple blows ahead of the first Test of the 4-match series. They had announced a strong squad for the first Test but injuries to three of their squad members had hit them badly.
Both in-form openers David Warner (groin injury) and Will Pucovski (concussion) had been ruled out of the first Test while a fresh calf injury had Sean Abbott miss the first Test match. Luckily with Sheffield season going on, Australia were able to replace them with like-for-like replacements!
Warner was the first of this trio to get injured during the 3-match ODI series against India and it then cleared the way for both Joe Burns and Will Pucovski to open the batting in the first Test match. But with a concussion scare, Pucovski had to sit out of the game. Australia named Marcus Harris as replacement and is set to open the batting for the home team in the first Test alongside out-of-form Joe Burns.
Meanwhile, Sean Abbott injured himself (calf injury) during the second warm-up match against Indians and is now ruled out of the first Test match. All-rounder Moises Henriques is set to replace him in the squad. For the record, Henriques was lined up to feature in the second warm-up game against Indians but a low-grade hamstring ruled him out. However, he passed the fitness test on Monday (Dec 14) to earn a recall for the first Test match!
The first Test match of the four-match between Australia and India is scheduled to be played beginning from Thursday (Dec 17). This Test marks the first Day-Night Test match between these two sides and also first overseas such Test for India.
Australia Squad for first Test: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade
** Image Credits to Cricket Australia
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