Justin Langer, the Australian coach has confirmed that the hosts Australia will take on India in the Boxing Day Test with an unchanged playing XI on Saturday after winning the first day-night Test by 8 wickets.
Australian bowlers wrecked havoc on the third day of the first pink-ball Test as pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood took nine wickets between themselves in the second innings to restrict India to their lowest ever Test score of 36/9 in their second essay.
Justin Langer: Unless Something Happens Over Next Few Days Australia Will Go With The Same Playing XI
Justin Langer said Australia will field the same playing XI for the second Test unless and until something develops in the upcoming few days.
“I’ll be a pretty courageous man to change the playing XI this Test match after the last one. Unless something happens over the next few days and that can in the world we live but we are going with the same XI,” Langer said in a virtual press-conference on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has confirmed that the crowd capacity for the 2nd Boxing Day Test between India and Australia has been increased to 30,000 per day from 25,000 per day attendance. Earlier, only 25,000 fans were permitted each day inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Boxing Day Test, but Cricket Australia has confirmed the increased capacity.
Justin Langer: Thirty Thousand Crowd Is Better Than None
Justin Langer expressed his happiness over the staging of the Boxing Day Test amidst the coronavirus pandemic as he loves the hype surrounding the amazing stadium.
“Thirty thousand (crowd) is better than none. And it wasn’t that long ago, probably a few weeks ago that we wonder if we had a Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne. Every time I come here I pinch myself, playing at the MCG I’ve come here a lot. It’s just an amazing stadium, the hype about it and boys love playing here,” said Langer.
“The Indians will love, probably lot would have dreamt of playing here a Test match and thirty thousand is better than none and it certainly provides the atmosphere,” he added.
Also, the Player of the Match of the second Test between the two sides will be awarded the Mullagh Medal, named after the legendary Johnny Mullagh.
The medal, titled ‘Mullagh Medal’, is named after the skipper of the Australian indigenous side that toured England in 1868. It was the first organized group of Australian sporting teams touring internationally.
Meanwhile, opener David Warner and pacer Sean Abbott have been ruled out of the second Test against India.
Australia’s likely playing XI: Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.