IND vs AUS: Justin Langer Reveals Playing XI Ahead of The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne
Australia coach Justin Langer has hinted at an unchanged XI against India for the Boxing Day Test, saying it would be a “very courageous” move to make alterations to the team that won so impressively in Adelaide.
After India’s humiliating 8 wicket loss in the opening Day/Night Test in Adelaide Oval against the hosts, Australia would not be eager to bring changes in their playing eleven. Meanwhile, Australia coach Justin Langer has expressed the same desire.
Australian bowlers gave their best in the third day of the pink-ball Test by breaking the back of Indian batsmen. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood shared nine wickets among themselves as they ended India’s show on an embarrassingly low score of 36 runs.
Langer has made it clear that the hosts would be entering the Boxing Day Test with an unchanged eleven until and unless something significant happens in the next 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,” stated Langer in a virtual press conference as quoted by the New Indian Express on Thursday.
Langer expresses his joy over conducting the Boxing Day Test amid the coronavirus pandemic. The former cricketer said that he loves coming to the Melbourne Cricket Ground as people dream of playing at this iconic stadium. Earlier, Cricket Australia increased the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s seating capacity from 25,000 to 30,000 for the second match between India and Australia.
“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. 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,” added Langer.
Australia Playing XI: Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Tim Paine, and Pat Cummins
