AUS vs IND 2nd Test: Aussies to field unchanged playing 11, informs Langer

Australia opener David Warner still have to attain match fitness and this a reason why the hosts are not changing its playing 11 from previous match

Australia cricket team's coach Justin Langer confirmed on Thursday that the hosts will go with an unchanged playing 11 against India for the Boxing Day Test, starting Saturday (December 26) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This will be second test match of the ongoing four-match series, also known as Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which Australia leads 1-0 after handing a humiliating defeat to India in the first Test match at the Adelaide Oval. 

"Davey (David Warner) had a good hit yesterday. He is still a way off his running. We know how dynamic he is. There is no one who is more dynamic than him in the game between the wickets and the way he fields. We want to make sure that he gets 100 per cent fit for that because he gets energy personally out of that and as a group we get great energy," said Langer while speaking to the reporters.

David Warner after getting injured during ODI series. Photo: @cricketcomau

When David Warner will return to AUS playing 11?

"We are very hopeful. He batted well and is moving well. He is enthusiastic as ever. He has got so much energy and passion and has been doing it for last three weeks. He is doing everything to get back onto the ground. He is having a bit of trouble running at full speed. When he gets back his full confidence, he will come back in our team...we will monitor him and we will have him back, not just for our team... everyone loves to see him play cricket, he is great for the theatre, performance and entertainment of Test cricket. So we will welcome him as soon as he gets fit," added Langer.

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2nd Test: India vs Australia playing 11 prediction

Australia playing 11: Joe Burns, Mathew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathon Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

India tentative playing 11: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj/Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah.

Check IND vs AUS Tests full schedule match timing and free streaming details

Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri during practice session. Photo: @BCCI