Australia playing 11 announced: Australia have announced their playing 11 for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne, starting December 26.
Riding high on confidence with a win inside 2 days in the first test, the home have decided to lock in the same batting order as David Warner prepares to play in his 100th Test for his country. Usman Khawaja, a fellow left-hander, will be at his side, followed by Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head, Player of the Match in the first Test.
However, Josh Hazlewood will miss another Test as he works to recover from a side strain. The Ashes champion from last year, Scott Boland, is still in the starting XI and is looking to continue his recent success.
Pat Cummins clears the decision to select Boland over Hazlewood
In a press conference on Christmas morning, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins discussed the decision to select Boland over Hazlewood.
“We gave Joshy (Hazlewood) every chance, (but) it just got to a stage where (he) more than anyone else felt like he was a little bit underdone.
“It’s a mark of the man really, he himself said ‘don’t feel quite right’ so he kind of pulled himself out of selection.
“We talk a lot about how (as) a team we need a squad mentality and I think it’s another great example.”
Australia vs South Africa test series 2022-23
In just the second day of play at The Gabba on Sunday, Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins starred with a five-wicket haul as Australia romped to a convincing 6-wicket victory over South Africa in the first test of the three-match series.
The ICC Test Championship table-toppers, Australia, won the test match and maintained their lead, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process.
After taking two wickets in the first innings and fifer in the second, the home team’s captain broke the visitors’ back and gave his team a convincing victory.
Australian batters also faced some hard time at the middle during the first test, as after bowling out the Proteas for 152, the Australian batters were also outmatched because, like the Australian bowlers, the foreign bowlers controlled the game and only allowed 218 runs to be scored.
South Africa then bowled out for 99.
The low-scoring game saw Australia to chase a 34-run target, which looked like a relatively easy task, they still had to work hard to succeed and go on to win the first test by 6 wickets.
Australia will try to increase its lead in the standings as competition for a spot in the World Test Championship Final heats up, while Dean Elgar’s team will try to recover from their loss in the first Test of the series.
Australia 11 for second Test
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
