AUS vs PAK: Australia announce trimmed squad for Boxing Day Test, young fast bowler Lance Morris released

Australia on Monday, December 18 announced their squad for the 2nd Test of the ongoing 3-match series against Pakistan, scheduled to get underway from the Boxing Day in Melbourne. Australia trimmed their squad from 14 to 13, releasing a rookie fast bowler for the Melbourne Cricket Ground encounter.

Opener David Warner has been retained in the squad after his sensational match-winning hundred in the first innings of the first Test in Perth, which ended on Sunday with Australia clinching a 360-run win over Pakistan.

Fast bowler Lance Morris, who was added to the squad for the first Test, has been released. The 25-year-old right-arm express pacer will be available for Perth Scorchers in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League.

Australia squad for Boxing Day Test

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.

The two teams will have an 8-day break between the first and the 2nd Tests and Pakistan will also play a warm-up match before they head to Melbourne to try and level the series.

Australia are unlikely to make any changes to their pace-bowling line-up for the 2nd Test at the start of their home summer. Australia bowled 100 overs in the first innings of the Perth Test, but they managed to wrap up the Test on Day 4 after Pakistan were bundled out for 89 in the final innings. The visitors lasted just 30 overs in the fourth innings as Australia bowlers did not break a sweat through the course of their dominating show at the Optus Stadium.

With the fast bowlers expected to be fresh for the 2nd Test in Melbourne, it’s unlikely for even local hero Scott Boland to get a game.

“I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up at this stage. I think all the bowlers are pretty fresh after (the win in Perth). It’s basically the ideal start to the summer,” Cummins said after the Perth Test, hinting an unchanged XI for Melbourne.

On the other hand, David Warner has retained his place in the side after strong showing in the series opener. The left-handed opener silenced his critics with a match-winning 164 in the first innings of the Perth Test. He got out for 0 in the second innings, but the opener ensured his place in the side was not questioned ahead of what is expected to be his farewell Test in Sydney in the series finale.

Warner surpassed former greats Matthew Hayden (8625) and Michael Clarke (8643) to become Australia’s fifth-highest test run-scorer in the longest format of the game.