India vs Australia: Justin Langer reveals playing XI ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne
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The Australian team registered an emphatic victory during the inaugural Test against India at the Adelaide Oval. The hosts will now lock horns with Ajinkya Rahane and co in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG from December 26 onwards.
Meanwhile, Aussie head coach Justin Langer confirmed that they would take the field with the same playing XI in Melbourne. He said that Tim Paine’s men would go unchanged unless something happens at the last moment.
“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,” Langer said in a virtual press-conference on Thursday.
‘Many players dream of playing in Melbourne’
Langer expresses his joy over conducting the Boxing Day Test amid the coronavirus pandemic. The former cricketer said that he loves coming to the MCG 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,” said Langer.
“The Indians will love, probably a lot would have dreamt of playing here a Test match and Thirty thousand is better than none. It certainly provides the atmosphere,” he added.
Australia’s playing XI: Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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Sachin Arora
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