Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Mitch Marsh confirmed to play, Scott Boland the sole Aussie addition for Adelaide Test
Mitch Marsh has been confirmed by skipper Pat Cummins to line up in Adelaide, with the Aussies set to make just one change for the defining Second Test against India.
Cummins said Marsh may bowl when the Test begins on Friday, despite the WA star being under an injury cloud and failing to bowl at the team’s practice session on Wednesday night.
Scott Boland will be Australia’s sole addition, with the paceman set for his first Test appearance in his home country for almost two years as he replaces Josh Hazlewood (side strain).
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Marsh hasn’t bowled at any stage since being called on for 17 overs in the West Test, with the 33-year-old looking sore at several points across the match.
It comes as Cummins backed struggling Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne to aggressively fight his way out of his form funk.
But Cummins conceded the out-of-sorts first-drop faces a challenge to transfer his attacking intent from the nets to centre stage at Adelaide Oval.
Labuschagne enters the second Test against India starting on Friday in Adelaide in the midst of his leanest lengthy patch at the crease.
His failures in Australia’s 295-run loss to India in the series opener - scores of two from 52 balls and three from five deliveries - heightened concern about his form.
“He’s training well, like he always does, hitting millions of balls,” Cummins said.
“It’s pretty impossible to kind of dismiss or ignore some of the commentary around perhaps being a little bit more proactive.
“So I think you’ve seen that (more aggressive) side of him in the nets.
“The challenge is always going out there and making sure you keep that mindset.
“But he’s been great, like he always is. (He’s) always working on things, trying to plan how he’s going to score his hundred this Test.”
Labuschagne played his initial two Tests in 2018 and averaged 20.25.
He then excelled to boost his career average to more than 61.
Labuschagne’s average now sits at 48.45 as he struggles this calendar year - from 12 Test innings, he’s averaging 24.50, without a century.
The right-hander will be under intense scrutiny in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, a venue where he has achieved great success - he’s scored three tons and a half-century and averages 71.75 at the ground.
The Aussies are a $1.95 favourite to level the series at 1-1 despite their hammering in Perth, with India a $2.15 outsider.
