After getting outplayed in the boxing day test by India, Australia was bound to make changes to the test team for the remaining two games. It didn’t take long for selectors to make defining changes as Joe Burns was dropped from the squad on December 30. The opening batsman has been in poor form and he struggled against Indian bowlers in two tests.
Burns is likely to be replaced by David Warner in the playing XI. Warner has been struggling with injury since second one day international against India in November. However, Tim Paine confirmed after the defeat in Melbourne that Warner is showing great progress in training and he should be in contention for the test match in Sydney.
Along with Warner, Will Pucovski has also been included in the squad for last two games. The young opening batsman was in line to play in Adelaide and Melbourne, but he suffered a head injury during the warmup game against India. Pucovski is likely to open with Warner, while Wade will move in the middle order for Australia during the last two test matches. Sean Abbott will also join the test squad in Melbourne before the team travels to Sydney.
From India’s point of view, Rohit Sharma will be back in training with the team on Wednesday. Sharma has been in quarantine for past two weeks after being declared fit by National Cricket Academy on December 11. It will be a big boost to have Sharma back in the squad as he has enjoyed good run of form in his last test series.
In the bowling department, Umesh Yadav is set to miss the game in Sydney after hobbling off the ground in the second innings of the boxing day test. Navdeep Saini is likely to be his replacement, while Shardul Thakur and T.Natarajan are also part of the squad.