Australia name 13-men squad for Boxing Day test against Pakistan at the MCG

Australia defeated Pakistan by 360 run at Optus Stadium in first test.

After a heavy win over Pakistan in the first test match played at Optus Stadium in Perth, Cricket Australia announced a 13-members squad for the upcoming Boxing Day test scheduled at MCG in Melbourne. Australia had a 14-members team for the first test but for the second test, they will be going in with a 13-members side. Australia thrashed Pakistan by 360 runs in the first test which concluded on Sunday afternoon. 

Australia have made one big change as Western Australian pacer Lance Morris will be heading into the Big Bash League. Morris was part of the first test squad but didn’t get an opportunity to play in the XI. This is the only change that Cricket Australia made from the Perth squad as they head east to Victoria in Melbourne and play in the iconic Boxing Day test against rattled Pakistanis. Australia are also without any injury concerns. 

Right-arm pacer Scott Boland is also part of the squad. Boland had a memorable international debut on Boxing Day and finished the game with an iconic spell of 6/7 against England. Boland might not be part of the playing XI as Australian pacers had an easy job in the first test match and didn’t bowl in big spells. Boland has picked up 47 wickets in 10 test matches for Australia.

‘No Injury issues for Australia’

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said that Australia might not have any injury issues in the coming game. Cummins said, “I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up at this stage. I think all the bowlers are pretty fresh after (the win in Perth). It’s basically the ideal start to the summer.” Pakistan batted for only 30 overs in the second innings and were restricted to just 89 run-score. 

Australian opener David Warner had a wonderful game and scored a mammoth 164 runs in the first innings. Warner will be playing the final Boxing Day test of his career. Nathan Lyon also had a memorable outing in Perth and became the third Australian bowler and 8th overall to complete 500 test wickets milestone. Lyon picked up 5 wickets in the first test and made his entry into the elite list of test leading wicket-takers. 

Australia squad for the second test against Pakistan 

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner

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