Australia v India, second Test news: Hazlewood replacement named, call made on Mitch Marsh

Pat Cummins insists Mitch Marsh will likely bowl during the Adelaide Test despite not rolling the arm in the over in the nets this week, as he confirmed Josh Hazlewood’s replacement.

Pat Cummins insists Mitch Marsh will likely bowl during the Adelaide Test despite not rolling the arm in the over in the nets this week.

Confirming that Australia would make just one forced change from the team humbled to the tune of 295 runs in Perth, Cummins was also bullish that Josh Hazlewood would miss only this match with his side injury, and downplayed the prospect of Marnus Labuschagne being used much with the ball during the second Test.

Scott Boland will return to Test cricket after 17 months on the outer, replacing the injured Hazlewood. And while the Victorian is ready to go, so too is Marsh according to Australian captain Cummins.

Scott Boland is back in the Australian Test team, after being named to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood. Picture: Getty Images

Marsh pulled up sore from the first Test and has not bowled in the nets all week.

Cummins said while Marsh was battling a back issue, a decision had been made not to wear out the all-rounder in the lead-up to the Test, with the skipper expecting to be able to call upon the West Australian with the pink ball against India at Adelaide Oval.

“Made the call with the medical team over the last couple of days to give him another couple of days off bowling,” Cummins said.

“But yeah expect him to warm up and if required he’ll bowl and I’m guessing he will probably be required at some point.”

Cummins said that the fact Marsh hadn’t bowled in recent days was not a worry.

“Not a huge concern. You probably need to speak to the physio but it’s back stiffness,” Cummins said.

“I don’t quite know (exactly what is wrong with him) but he’ll warm up tomorrow, pretty confident that (he’ll bowl and we will) prioritise his overs for the games rather than kind of using up some of them in the nets.”

Hazlewood has been wiped out for large chunks of two of the past three home Test summers but Cummins was buoyant about his fellow paceman being available to play at the Gabba in the third Test starting on December 14.

“Pretty confident for Brisbane. He had a good bowl yesterday (at) three-quarters, maybe a bit more than that. Went beautifully. Got wind of it probably day three, kind of towards the end there,” Cummins said.

“He bowled once or twice more with it but then kind of thought that’s maybe enough. That’s probably the right call in hindsight. I think in previous years where he’s kept bowling it’s probably turned that one week injury into a three or four or five week injury whereas this year seems a little bit different and he’s really confident.”

Josh Hazlewood is a key part of a consistent Australian bowling unit, which has combined for more than 500 wickets when operating together. Picture: AFP

Labuschagne was used as something of a short-ball enforcer in Perth but Cummins said the Queenslander was unlikely to be called upon much with the ball, even if Marsh was deemed unfit to bowl.

“I’d say more likely turn to the fast bowlers a bit more,” Cummins said.

“In Perth Joshy was getting a little bit sore as well there towards the end so there’s a bit of preservation there whereas this Test everyone’s fit and firing so if that remains the case as a general rule you try and rely on your four main guys.”

Mitchell Marsh has retained his place in the Australian Test XI. Picture: Getty Images

Labuschagne enters the Test under enormous scrutiny after a poor run with the bat, but Cummins was upbeat about his prospects of turning things around.

“He’s training well like he always does,” Cummins said.

“It’s pretty impossible to kind of dismiss or ignore some of the commentary around perhaps being a little bit more proactive. So I think you’re seeing that side of him in the nets. The challenge is always going out there and making sure you keep that mindset. But he’s been great like he always is.”

Cummins also further dismissed talk of a schism within the Australian side that had been stoked following comments made by Hazlewood at the end of day three in Perth.

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

Originally published as Australia v India, second Test news: Hazlewood replacement named, call made on Mitch Marsh