Australia coach gives the latest on the likely make-up of his team for the Adelaide Oval after convincing triumph in first Test
Langer drops selection hint for second Test
Coach Justin Langer expects Australia to field an unchanged XI for the second Domain Test in Adelaide as his side looks to build on their crushing win at the Gabba last week.
Pacemen Michael Neser and James Pattinson as well as batsman Cameron Bancroft are all part of Australia’s squad in Adelaide having missed out in Brisbane, and Langer expects the trio to miss again.
“The boys all played well (in Brisbane), they had a day off having finished in four days,” he said today.
“We haven’t had a look at the wicket yet, we’ll make sure they get through training today.
“But my gut feel is we’ll probably go with the same XI.”
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Pattinson, who was not available for the first Test due to suspension, was today named in Victoria’s squad for their Marsh Sheffield Shield match against NSW, pending him being released from the Test squad.
Langer can enjoy the luxury of taking a settled side into the second Test after his batsmen fired at the Gabba to quieten any selection speculation about the make-up of his top six.
Apart from Steve Smith, the only batsman who didn’t post a sizeable score at the Gabba was Travis Head, who scored 24 having come to the crease with Australia already flying at 4-468 in their only innings.
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“It’s often a really hard time to come into bat,” Langer said of Head, who will play his second Test in front of his home crowd.
“But I was impressed (because) he was sharp, he was busy, he played well and got a pretty unlucky dismissal down the leg side.
“One of the reasons we selected him in the squad is we knew the second Test was in Adelaide.
“We all know he’s a great young bloke, he’s a very good young player and hopefully he does well this week.
“There’s no reason he shouldn’t. He’s in good nick.”
Having been overlooked for the fifth Ashes Test earlier this year in favour of allrounder Mitchell Marsh, Head made a slow start to the home summer but secured a Test return on the back of his deeds in his most recent match at his home ground.
Against a NSW attack featuring Test bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon at the Adelaide Oval earlier this month, Head posted 109 in a low-scoring match, his 11th first-class century and his fourth this year having followed his maiden Test ton against Sri Lanka last February with two in the UK during the northern summer.
The second Test is a day-night affair that starts at 2pm local time on Friday.
Domain Test Series v Pakistan
Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.
First Test: Australia won by an innings and five runs.
Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)