Australian paceman Jhye Richardson will make his Ashes debut in this afternoon’s day-nighter at the Adelaide Oval, whilst opening batsman David Warner will also play despite suffering a blow to the ribs in the opening Test match of the series.
Richardson comes in for Josh Hazlewood, who suffered a side strain in Brisbane. The 25-year-old has just a pair of Test matches against Sri Lanka to his name but has long been admired by those within the Australian camp. In those two matches, the Western Australian-native took six wickets at 20.50 average. Despite a late effort to dislodge Richardson and force his way into the team, Michael Neser’s opportunity to claim a baggy green will have to wait.
Usman Khawaja and Bryce Street were on standby for Warner, but skipper Pat Cummins has confirmed that the 35-year-old will open alongside the under-fire Marcus Harris. Australia’s XI remains unchanged apart from the Hazlewood-to-Richardson swap.
Meanwhile, following a dubious call to omit them from the opening Test of the series in Brisbane, England fast-bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson have been named in a 12-man squad for the second Test. Mark Wood has been dropped, despite impressing in a losing side in Brisbane.
England’s XI will not be announced until the toss later today, but early reports are that Broad’s spot in the side is no certainty, with the 35-year-old spending a considerable amount of time in the nets working on his batting with other members of England’s squad who are not playing in Adelaide.
Given the conditions in Adelaide – a day-night Test with a pink ball – and Jack Leach’s horror outing in Brisbane, there have been calls for England to enter the match without a full-time spinner. Leach has, however, been named in the 12-man squad and is likely to play.
