Cummins reveals Australia’s XI for Adelaide Test, calls out Fox commentators

Pat Cummins is confident Josh Hazlewood will be fit for the third Test against India in Brisbane after Scott Boland was confirmed as Australia’s third frontline seam bowler for the pink ball Test in Adelaide.

Cummins also declared Fox Sports commentators got it “100 per cent wrong” by inferring that Australia’s dressing room was divided after comments made by Hazlewood during the Perth Test.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the day-night Test, starting on Friday at 2:30pm local time (3pm AEDT), Cummins said Australia would retain the same top six from their 295-run defeat to India in Perth.

Boland was selected in place of Hazlewood, who picked up a minor side strain during the heavy defeat in the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Although the second and third Tests are effectively back to back, with a four-day break before the Gabba fixture, Cummins indicated Hazlewood would be fit for the match starting December 14.

Hazlewood reported soreness during India’s second innings – the tourists declared at 6-487 – and had his bowling loads managed. Cummins said that was why Marnus Labuschagne bowled more than expected in Perth.

Pat Cummins on the phone at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images

“He’s really confident for the Gabba,” said Cummins of Hazlewood. “He had a good bowl yesterday [Wednesday] only like three-quarters [pace]. It went beautifully.

“It’s probably the right call in hindsight. I think in previous years, we just kept bowling [him]. It’s probably turned that one-week injury into a three-, four- or five-week injury, whereas this year it seems a little bit different.”

Cummins confirmed Mitch Marsh was battling back soreness but said he was poised to bowl. Medical staff opted to give the all-rounder a few extra days of rest rather than bowling in the nets.

Boland took 0-36 from 10 overs for the Prime Minister’s XI against India last week and hasn’t played a Test since last year’s Ashes series. However, Australia believe Boland can be their chief destroyer, given he averages 13.71 in Tests with the pink ball.

“Traditionally there’s normally a little bit of nip here, which obviously suits Scotty quite well,” Cummins said. “All last summer, he was kind of geared up to go and no-one fell over. He’s happy with how it’s coming out, and his rhythm. As a captain, it’s pretty awesome for someone like Scotty to come straight in.”

Cummins’ side are aiming to avoid becoming the first Australian team since 1988 to lose three consecutive Tests on home soil.

Meanwhile, there has been added tension between players and commentators following suggestions on Fox during the last Test that there could be a rift in the playing ranks.

Cummins’ manager, Neil Maxwell, said on Wednesday that commentators drew the wrong conclusion from comments made by Hazlewood at a press conference during the match.

Hazlewood was asked about how he would prepare for the following day of play, with Australia still needing 522 runs for victory in the fourth innings.

“You probably have to ask one of the batters that question,” Hazlewood said before elaborating further.

In a panel discussion, former Test player Adam Gilchrist said: “That to me tells me there is potentially a divided change room. I don’t know if there is. I might be reading too much into that.”

Session times for second Test at Adelaide Oval

• Coin toss 2pm local time (2:30pm AEDT)
• First session: 2:30pm to 4:30pm (3pm to 5pm AEDT)
• Dinner: 4:30pm to 5:10pm (5pm to 5:40pm AEDT)
• Second session: 5:10pm to 7:10pm (5:40pm to 7:40pm)
• Tea: 7:10pm to 7:30pm (7:40pm to 8pm AEDT)
• Third session: 7:30pm to 9:30pm (8pm to 10pm AEDT)
• Extra 30 minutes if required. Play can go until 10pm (10:30pm AEDT) 

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said: “I must admit, I’m staggered by that. Josh Hazlewood is a great bowler, terrific team member. Publicly, I’ve never heard an Australian come out and kind of divide the camp into batters and bowlers.”

Cummins said there were no issues in the dressing room and made it clear he disagreed with the pair.

“The team’s great. Some of the commentators got that 100 per cent wrong,” Cummins said. “We’ve prepared like we always do and get around each other. It’s a great feeling around the team. We don’t make too much of it.

“When things don’t go right, there’s enough commentators that will support you but also some that will, of course, create some headlines. We try not to take too much notice of it.”

Australia has never lost a pink ball Test in Adelaide but did suffer a first day-night Test defeat in Brisbane this year, to West Indies.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who confirmed he would bat in the middle order with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opening, said his side’s preparations had been solid and that they hadn’t paid much attention to criticism of Australia’s performance.

“It would mean a lot,” said Rohit of a potential 2-0 series lead. “I know they have a good record but records are meant to be broken. From our point of view, we’ve had a good start to the series.”

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could come into India’s XI ahead of Washington Sundar, while Shubman Gill is expected to bat at No.3 with Devdutt Padikkal dropping out of the side.