Home team Australia have named their playing XI for the second Test match against India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The hosts are going to play their unchanged XI for the second Test match after a marvelous victory in the first Test match at the Adelaide Oval last week.
After a convincing victory in the first Test match, it would be very difficult for the Aussies to make any changes to their playing XI. Why would you want to change your winning combination after all after such a commanding victory in the first Test match of the series at the Adelaide Oval!
“I’d be a pretty courageous man to change the XI for this Test match after the last one”
Justin langer, Australia Head Coach
Moreover, Australia’s regular opener David Warner has not yet fully recovered from the groin injury he sustained during the ODI series earlier against India at the end of last month. He missed the third ODI of the series, the whole 3-match T20I series and the first Test match in Adelaide before being ruled out of Boxing Day Test. It would be interesting to see if he attains full match fitness during the ongoing Test series with India!
For the record, Australia won the first Test match of the series at Adelaide Oval which ended in around 2 and half days. India were in the driver’s seat at the end of Day 2 with a 62-run lead in the second innings having 9 wickets in hand. However, Australia made a miraculous comeback on Day 3 morning bowling out India for just 36 runs. And the home team chased down the target of 90 runs in the fourth innings with 8 wickets in hand and took a 1-0 lead in this 4-match series.
The same playing XI for the second Test match implies a second chance for the new opening duo – Matthew Wade and Joe Burns. All-rounder Cameron Green too would embrace this opportunity to cement his place in the side as an effective all-rounder. The second Test match between Australia and India would be played at the MCG beginning on Boxing Day (Dec 26).
Australia Playing XI for second Test: Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
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