ZCZC
BSP-07
CRICKET-AUS-IND-TOSS
Australia win toss and bat in second India Test
PERTH, Australia, Dec 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australia captain Tim Paine won
the toss and elected to bat in scorching hot conditions in the second Test
against India at Perth Stadium on Friday.
India lead the series 1-0 after a 31-run win in Adelaide and have made two
changes with key spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and experienced batsman Rohit
Sharma ruled out injured.
All-rounder Hanuma Vihari, who can bowl off-spin, is in for Sharma with
India opting for Umesh Yadav as Ashwin’s replacement, meaning they go into
the Test with an all-pace attack.
Australia are unchanged with Aaron Finch to open the batting with rookie
Marcus Harris.
“Obviously it is very warm today and I said this wicket will crack up under
the hot weather,” Paine said. “Everyone has recovered really well and we’re
raring to go.”
India captain Virat Kohli said he would have batted as well, with
temperatures due to nudge 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).
“But it’s not a bad thing to bowl on day one on a wicket which has a lot of
grass. We are happy with whatever we are going to do,” he said.
Teams
Australia – Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis
Head, Peter Handscomb, Tim Paine (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan
Lyon, Mitchell Starc
India – Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt),
Hanuma Vihari, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami,
Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
BSS/AFP/MRI/0836 hrs