Captain Pat Cummins and experienced spin bowler Nathan Lyon have returned to Australia’s playing eleven for the important third Test match. This match of the Ashes series will be played at Adelaide Oval.
Two players have been dropped from the team that won by eight wickets in the Gabba Test. Among them, all-rounder Michael Neser was the most unfortunate, while fast bowler Brendan Dodget also had to sit out of the team. Neser bowled brilliantly at Gabba.
For Pat Cummins, this test will be the first test after the match played against West Indies in the middle of the year. Cummins said that he is completely fit and there will be no overs limit in bowling. He told that if he had played in Brisbane Test, he would have probably bowled less overs, but in this match he will play to his full capacity like in a normal Test.
Experienced opening batsman Usman Khawaja once again did not get a place in the team. The selectors have kept faith in Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as the opening pair. Wicketkeeper batsman Josh Inglis also remains in the team and will bat at number seven.
Cummins made it clear that Usman Khawaja’s international career is not over. He said that Khawaja is a player who is always ready for the team. Cummins also told that many players like Beau Webster, Michael Neser and Brendan Dodget have been left out in this series, but everyone has kept the atmosphere of the team positive. To win the Ashes series, a strong team and a big squad are necessary.
Let us tell you that the Ashes is a five-match Test series, in which the host Australia has defeated Ben Stokes-led England on every front and has won the first two Test matches. By winning the third test, Australia will get an unassailable lead in the Ashes. In such a situation, the challenge before England is ‘do or die’.
Australia’s playing-11: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
