Australia have revealed their playing XI for the fourth Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) starting Thursday, December 26 while making a couple of changes. 19-year-old New South Welshman Sam Konstas will make his debut replacing Nathan McSweeney while Scott Boland returned to the side in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood while skipper Pat Cummins confirmed that the hard-hitting Travis Head was good to go as far as his fitness was concerned.
Head had sustained a minor cramp in his groin while batting in the second innings as he didn’t take field for Australia when the Indian openers came out to bat at the Gabba for a little more than two overs. However, Cummins ensured that he will do just fine through the Boxing Day Test. “Trav’s good to go, he’ll play,” Australian skipper told reporters on the eve of the Test match. “He just ticked off some final things today and yesterday. But no worries about injury with Trav. He’ll go into the game fully fit.
“I don’t think you’ll see too much management of him throughout the game. He just kind of plays as is. Maybe around fielding, if he’s a bit uncomfortable, we will (manage him), but he’s fully fit,” he added.
Among other changes was the inclusion of the paceman Boland at his home ground, who after five wickets in the day-night Test in Adelaide returns to the fold and Cummins felt fortunate that they have someone like him to seamlessly fill in for someone like Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out of the series.
“He bowled beautifully in Adelaide,” Cummins said on Boland. “Whenever he gets his chance, he steps in and looks like he’s one of the best bowlers in the world. I expect him (to do) much the same. He loves bowling here, he’s played probably more than anyone else here at the MCG in our team. He’s prepared really well.
“It is pretty awesome that even with an unfortunate injury like Josh has, you can have someone like Scotty to come straight in seamlessly,” he added while giving the advice to the teenager Konstas to have fun and not overthink as he recalled his debut being very young with the Australian team.
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The five-match Test series is nicely poised with the scoreline being 1-1 after the draw at the Gabba. India won the series opener in Perth before Australia stormed back in Adelaide and the final two Tests promise to be thrilling end to the series with World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake.
Australia’s playing XI for MCG Test: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
