Justin Langer confirms Australia will field same XI for Boxing Day Test as at Adelaide

Ahe of mega Boxing Day Test against India, Australia He coach Justin Langer has confirmed that hosts will field same playing XI as in first Test on Friday. second Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Friday in front of nearly 30,000 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Contrary to first Test, Indian team has decided to keep its cards close by opting to t declare ir playing 11 on match eve. 

"I'll be a pretty courous man to change playing XI this Test match after last one. Unless something happens over next few days and that can in world we live but we are going with same XI," Langer said in a virtual press-conference on Thursday.

Australian coach also expressed delight over presence of fans at MCG. Highlighting that 'thirty thousand is better than ne,' Langer opined that Indians will love to play at MCG on Friday. Moreover, he coach exuded tremendous confidence in his skipper Tim Paine and heaped praise on his batting in first Test. 

"I have said publicly and privately he is such an important player because he is le wicket-keeper. His leership is incredible and we saw how well he batted in first innings under pressure in elaide, probably changed game with run out of Virat Kohli. He is a great player and great leer and I literally love having him in our team," Langer said. 

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Australia dealt with a huge blow

Opener David Warner and bowler Sean Abbott will t play in second cricket test against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning Saturday due to a combination of injuries and COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. Warner and Abbott spent time in Sydney outside team’s bio-secure hub to recover from injuries.

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Warner has t fully recovered from a groin injury sustained in one-day series against India and would t have been available for second test. Abbott has recovered from a calf strain sustained during Australia A’s tour match against India and would have been available for selection for MCG Test.

India eye redemption 

After a humiliating defeat at elaide, Team India will be expected to come out all guns blazing on Friday morning at MCG. However, Men in Blue will be without ir two key players - skipper Virat Kohli and speedster Mohamm Shami. re has been a huge roar to replace out-of-form Prithvi Shaw with Shubman Gill and also bring back Rishabh Pant into playing XI. Apart from Gill, Ravindra Jeja is also in contention to play second Test at MCG. 

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