Australia are hoping to strengthen their position at the top of the ICC World Test Championship table as they take on India in the second Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Overview:
Australia v India, 2nd Test
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Saturday, December 26 – Wednesday, December 30, 10.30am local time, 11.30pm GMT
There are plenty of team changes going on for India who got mauling in the first Test despite being in the lead in the game heading into the final day. They are without captain Virat Kohli, who is off on his father ‘s leave, with Ajinkya Rahane to lead the side.
Shubman Gill could come in for Prithvi Shaw and open the baton on his first try. With Mohammad Shami ousted, one of Mohammad Siraj or Navdeep Saini could step in. Siraj has played for India A in Australia, New Zealand, England, the West Indies and South Africa and has a fairly good experience although not at the highest level.
Ravindra Jadeja was seen trying on the nets full of tilt and could be controversial as a second spinner, performing the full role at No. 7. He would effectively replace Virat Kohli in the XI then.
Australia, on the other hand, have all but said they would play XI unchanged.
“I will be very confident to change this XI game play after the last one. If something doesn’t happen over the next few days and that in the world we live in we can only go with the same XI, ”said Langer ahead of the second Test.
Australia will bank on their distance attack to keep India’s batting line back, without stat batsman Virat Kohli, silent.
Remember last time:
Things quickly emerged for India in Adelaide on the third day after a morning session they lost eight wikis for 16 runs. That said, it is worth remembering that India had done well to push themselves into a position of strength before that with the ball.
Steve Smith is out for one in every hotel and the form of Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah have been the favorites for India since the last Test. At the same time, Australia will be surrounded by the incredible return they have made, but like the Indians, their batting looked pretty normal in the first Test for the biggest hits.
What they said:
Nathan Lyon (Australian spinner): “We talked about it [Cheteshwar Pujara] in depth before the series started, it was nice to see a plan or two come off in Adelaide, but we have a couple of other things on our sleeves hopefully if it gets in that can us to submit. “
Ravi Shastri (India’s head coach): “[Umesh] Yadav has the experience. Saini is young and fast. Bumrah, one of the best in the industry. Siraj is an interesting sight. You put up a run on the board and watch those fast archers hunt against you. They can beat Australia in their own cellar. “