Australia’s cricket team in Adelaide have officially named their XI for the second Test of the Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval under lights. Stand-in captain Steve Smith, as always, will be at the helm in place of regular captain Pat Cummins who is staying home. NOTES: Cummins remains out with a back injury. In his absence, teammate and fellow bowler Josh Hazlewood has succumbed to injury, missing out with a hamstring strain.
The roster for the September 13 matchup includes not just familiar faces but young talent. In addition, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster have all played Test cricket. Notably, the team maintained an unchanged squad despite the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood, reflecting confidence in their current lineup.
Smith’s leadership will be vital as the make-up of attack with the pink-ball Test looming. Australia’s bowling attack could remain consistent, despite the loss of key players, given Mitchell Starc’s impressive performance in the first Test where he took 10 wickets. This squad’s depth gives them the flexibility to adapt and experiment while remaining a strong competitive force.
Usman Khawaja’s place in the squad has been called into question with his lack of runs. And there’s no shortage of speculation on the possibility of Josh Inglis finding his way into the lineup. We could see a big change coming ahead of the game. The squad will go back into training at Allan Border Field on Saturday. We’re definitely going to be watching this decision in the making so stay tuned.
Historically, Australia has a impressive record in Brisbane, with the Aussies not losing an Ashes Test at this venue since 1986. They boast an enviable pink-ball Test record of just one defeat in 14 games. They have beaten England in all three of the Ashes day-night matches. These numbers do nothing but strengthen Australia’s belief going into the second Test.
Looking forward, Cummins still has almost three weeks to get back on his feet. He’s now aiming for a comeback in the third game of the series in Adelaide. In truth, his absence will be sorely missed. The team’s grit and foresight may be the elbow grease that helps them maintain their lead against England.
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