3 minute read
India have left out star allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar battle against Australia in Perth.
A new-look India have chosen to bat after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss for the first Test against Australia in Perth.
The tourists will unleash two debutants - allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and quick Harshit Rana - for the eagerly anticipated Border-Gavaskar trophy opener at Optus Stadium.
"We're confident of the preparation we've had, so we're going to bat," Bumrah said.
"Usually you don't have some time to prepare, and the WACA (Ground) is pretty similar, the bounce is there."
But the tourists confirmed the shock selection calls by dropping star allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin.
Jadeja is coming off a 10-wicket haul in India's last Test and has tormented Australia in the past.
In the last battle for the Border-Gavaskar trophy in India last year, Jadeja and Ashwin were crowned joint player of the series as they spun their team to victory in the first two Tests to set up the 2-1 triumph.
Rohit Sharma will miss the first Test after remaining in India for the birth of his second child, replaced as captain by Bumrah.
The veteran opener is expected to arrive in Australia soon and will be available for the second Test in Adelaide.
Young star Shubman Gill is also absent after injuring his thumb at training.
Veteran paceman Mohammed Shami is still building his fitness back in India following a serious ankle injury, but he could be called upon later in the series.
While there are changes galore with India, debutant Nathan McSweeney is Australia's only change from their previous Test back in March.
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann presented McSweeney, who is in for injured allrounder Cameron Green, with his first Test cap.
McSweeney becomes Australia's 467th Test cricketer, and the first since left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann debuted in India in February 2023.
The 25-year-old Queenslander, who is currently South Australia's captain, will open the batting with Usman Khawaja despite never having done it at Sheffield Shield level.
AUSTRALIA: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
INDIA: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (capt), Mohammed Siraj.
