AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Australia set to field unchanged XI
Australia are set to field an unchanged playing XI for the Boxing Day Test Match against India, with head coach, Justin Langer stating that unless they are forced to make a change, they will go in with the same XI that won the first Test against India at Adelaide.
“I’d be a pretty courageous man to change the XI for this Test match after the last one,” said Langer. “At this stage unless something happens over the next few days – and it can happen in the world we live in – we’ll go in with the same XI, I’d say.”
David Warner is still not fully fit, according to Justin Langer and he hopes of having the left-hander back for the remaining two Tests. Matthew Wade and Joe Burns will continue opening for the hosts in the second Test match.
“We got some selection conundrums every game one way or other. Davey had a good hit yesterday, he’s a bit way off with the running. We know how dynamic he is, there’s no one more dynamic in the game with the running between the wickets, with the way he fields. He wants to make sure he’s 100% fit so he gets great energy personally and as a group e get energy out of that. But these things with selection have a funny way of working themselves out. Who knows, we can try and hypothesize as much as we want this far out. But my experience is, selection has a funny way of working itself out when it comes to the time you have to do it,” he said.
On being questioned on the pressure that is being put on Wade and Burns to deliver with Warner likely to make a comeback in the third Test, Langer stated that the competition for places was good for the team.
“That’s all part of the journey of every individual player, you’re literally under the pump every time you play for Australia. Every player is, that’s how it should be. We know we’ve got competition, I find myself repeating it over and over, but it’s so healthy for Australian cricket. It’s tough when you’re in the top 6 batters because you’ve always got people knocking hard on the door to take your spot. So you got to be on the toes all the time. And equally so for the guys on the outside, you’ve got to bang so hard to get an opportunity. So it’s really healthy.”
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I think we’re a very different team: Justin Langer on comparisons with the Australian team
Justin Langer stated that it was important to not look back on the past and find out things that went wrong during India’s Test series victory over them in 2018-19.
“I think we’re a very different team. we’ve come a long way in two years, we’re now playing very good cricket, we’ve got confidence,” said Langer. “I also remember losing the toss at MCG on a very, very, very, very flat wicket and that certainly took some wind off our sails, that’s for sure. So we’re a different team, we know that in the first innings in Australia we are looking to score 400 in the first innings. There’s no surprise there, that’s what we’ve based our best cricket on in years.”
Langer said that having 30,000 fans at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test was better than having none. “30000 is better than none, it’s not the same as 90 obviously. But I’m sure that the 30000 that will come in will provide the atmosphere that we love about the Boxing Day Test match.
“Boxing Day, as you’ve heard me say is my favorite day in the calendar for as long as i can remember, boxing day as an Australian cricketer.. it’s a bit different without our families here, it’s the first time in 50 years without family, the sacrifices that are being made… the fact that when we play Boxing day there’s 30000 people that’s a great thrill for anyone loves playing cricket like we do,” said Langer.