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Australia has made one change to its squad for the Boxing Day Test with uncapped speed demon Lance Morris being released to play for the Perth Scorchers.
Australia is expected to field an unchanged XI for the MCG Test after belting Pakistan by 360 runs in the Perth Stadium series-opener.
With the help of Nathan Lyon as he captured his 500th Test wicket, Australia’s main-line quicks tore through the Pakistan batting line-up so easily in the fourth innings that none of them are in need of a rest. Mitchell Starc bowled nine overs in the fourth innings, Josh Hazlewood 7.2 overs and Pat Cummins six.
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The brilliant trio are now planning on leading Australia to a series-winning victory in Melbourne.
“I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up at this stage,” Cummins said.
“I think all the bowlers are pretty fresh after [the win in Perth].
“It’s basically the ideal start to the summer.”
Morris’ omission has freed him up to face the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. The Scorchers will meet the Hurricanes at Perth Stadium on Wednesday, before taking on the Renegades at the same venue on Boxing Day.
Test selectors have again overlooked Morris despite calls from former Australian captain Ian Chappell for the 25-year-old speedster to be picked.
“I just hope at some point they don’t just pick Morris in a squad — they actually pick him in the team and find out what he can do,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports ahead of the first Test.
Australian squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
