ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec 05 (AFP): Australia head into the second Test against India in Adelaide fired up by pride, captain Pat Cummins said Thursday, as his team seek to bounce back from a crushing loss in Perth.
The hosts crumbled to a 295-run defeat in the first Test but go into the day-night clash starting Friday buoyed by a formidable record at the Adelaide Oval.
They have won all seven pink-ball Tests they have played there, including against India in 2020-21 when the visitors were bundled out for 36.
Josh Hazlewood was chief destroyer, taking 5-8, but a side strain has ruled him out this time, with seamer Scott Boland replacing him.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was declared fit after pulling up with back stiffness in Perth in an otherwise unchanged team.
Cummins admitted the pressure was on, but said they were used to it.
"Any Test match there is pressure," he said.
"When you're down there's a little bit more, especially when you are at home.
"But we have been in similar situations in World Cups or other series... we love playing here, we know we weren't at our best last week and we have got a few things to work on.
"Everyone has got a lot of personal pride, professional pride.
So there's pressure on you anytime you play, let alone with the scoreboard being down 1-0."
Boland will play his first Test in almost 18 months, with Cummins expecting the 35-year-old to be an asset on a pitch set to suit him.
"There's normally a little bit of nip, which suits Scotty quite well," he said.
"His prep has been really good. He's happy with how his rhythm is.
"As a captain, it's pretty awesome to have Scotty come straight in, who can bowl a huge amount of overs if you need, is super consistent and has performed at this level."
Cummins added that he was "pretty confident" Hazlewood would be
back for the third Test in Brisbane next week.
ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec 05 (AFP): Rohit Sharma will bat down the order in the pink-ball second Test against Australia in Adelaide, with India's returning skipper Thursday saying KL Rahul had earned his place as an opener.
Rohit, who usually opens, missed their 295-run first Test victory in Perth last week for the birth of his second child.
In his place, Rahul scored a patient 26 in the first innings then a solid 77 in a crucial 201-run opening stand with century-maker Yashasvi Jaiswal.
"KL will open. The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first Test win," said Rohit ahead of the game starting on Friday.
"The way he has batted outside India, he deserves it. I will bat somewhere in the middle.
"It was a fairly simple decision. Personally, it wasn't easy, but for the team, it was an easy decision to make."
Rohit would not reveal India's starting XI, nor where exactly he will bat. But with regular number three Shubman Gill set to return from a thumb injury, he will probably come in at five, after Virat Kohli and before Rishabh Pant.
Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel appear likely to make way.
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja were both overlooked for Perth and it remains unclear whether they will play.
But Rohit said they remained integral to the five-Test series.
"Unfortunately I wasn't there to break the news to them that they won't be playing that first game," he said. "It's always hard to leave experienced players like them out.
"But I think the decision was made for what was best for the team at that particular time... and that is I think what we will throughout the series look to do.
"But I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series because what they bring to the table can never be written off. They are quality players."
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