Australian captain Pat Cummins has announced their playing XI for the second Ashes Test, starting on Thursday at Adelaide. Since Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out due to an injury, Jhye Richardson will place him in the XI. That’s the only change Australia made in their XI.
There were some talks that Australia might go with a pace attack in this attack in this Pink-ball Test as they would hand a Test debut to Michael Neser replacing Nathan Lyon. But newly-appointed skipper persisted with the experienced off-spinner who completed 400 Test wickets in the last match.
Australia never lost a Pink-Ball Test yet
Also, there were some injury concerns for David Warner as well but Cummins confirmed the availability for the left-handed opener. Notable that Australia never lost a pink-ball test yet, winning 8 out of 8. So Joe Root & Co. will be up against the odds to turn things around at Adelaide.
In the first test at Brisbane, Australia beat the visitors comprehensively by 9 wickets inside 4 days. Barring the partnership between Joe Root and Dawid Malan in 2nd innings, England hardly had a moment to look back. A blistering knock from Travis Head (152) ripped the English attack apart.
In the last Ashes series in Australia 2017-18, England had their moments in the Pink ball Test as James Anderson picked a fifer in the second innings to bowl them out for 138. But England middle-order collapsed in 4th innings chase.
It will be interesting to see for England if they bring both Anderson and Broad back in the XI.
Australia’s playing XI for the second Test: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson
Also Read: Ben Stokes Unconcerned With Knee Injury And Raring To Play 2nd Ashes Test