Australia name unchanged XI for Boxing Day Test

Australian skipper Steve Smith has named an unchanged playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), thus paying way for another opportunity for Nic Maddinson.

In the three innings, Maddinson played, he only scored mere five runs and was under pressure to hold his spot for the second Test of the three-match series.

Zimbabwe born all-rounder Hilton Cartwright, who was brought in to the squad, will have to wait for his Test debut.

"We brought the all-rounder into the squad because the bowlers had a pretty heavy workload, but they have pulled up well and they are confident that they can get through - a reward for hard effort," Smith was quoted as saying by news.com.au.

Maddinson, brought in to the Australian team along with fellow newbies Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb after the disastrous loss to South Africa in Hobart, has made scores of 0, 1 and 4 in an uninspiring start to his Test career.

However, Australian coach Darren Lehmann said he would disregard the second hit in Brisbane when Maddinson sacrificed his wicket in the hunt for quick runs.

"Obviously, he (Maddinson) hasn't started the way he would have liked but I was really proud of him in the second innings in Brisbane," Smith said.

"To come out and do the thing for the team and try and score quick runs and have a crack, that's what we want from our team - to have unselfish players like that."

"I thought he did a good job to come out and do that. Hopefully, he can have a good Boxing Day Test match," he said.

Australia had won the opening day-night Test at the Gabba by 39-runs, thus taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia Playing XI: David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon.