Fast bowler Scott Boland has been recalled to Australia’s XI for the second men’s Test against India at Adelaide Oval, while all-rounder Mitch Marsh is cleared to bowl.
Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed Boland’s inclusion for his first Test since July last year, replacing Josh Hazlewood who is sidelined with a side strain.
Cummins said the expected movement of the pink ball in the day-night Test would suit Boland.
“There’s normally a little bit of nip, which suits Scotty quite well … as a captain, it’s pretty awesome to have Scotty come straight in,” Cummins told reporters in Adelaide.
Marsh will play and is available to bowl, despite experiencing soreness in the aftermath of Australia’s horror 295-run defeat to India in the series-opener in Perth.
He is expected to bowl at some stage during the Adelaide Test starting Friday.
Cummins dismissed the notion his team was under added pressure following the crushing loss in Perth.
“Any Test match there is pressure,” Cummins said.
“When you’re down there’s a little bit more but we have been in similar situations in World Cups or other series … we know we weren’t at our best last week, we have got a few things to work on.
“Everyone has got a lot of personal pride.”
Mitch Marsh is expected to bowl in the day-night Test. (AAP Photos: Dave Hunt)
Marsh has not bowled in the lead-up to the pink-ball Test.
The reigning Allan Border medallist only batted during Australia’s main training session at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
After his first stint batting, Marsh sat down on an esky for about 20 minutes before going inside.
Marsh then came back out 40 minutes later to have another bat before the end of Australia’s session.
The 33-year-old has been under an injury cloud since sending down more overs than Australia was expecting in Perth when India piled on second-innings runs.
Despite calling up in-form Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad, Australia have backed Marsh, who bowled 17 overs in Perth.
It was his heaviest workload in any Test since 2019.
AAP
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