Brisbane, Australia - Australia captain Pat cummins will miss the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, leaving the team to consider options for thier bowling attack. The news comes after Cummins and fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood were both ruled out of the match.
Despite the absence of their captain and Hazlewood, Australia may opt to field the same attack that secured victory in the first Test in Perth. That lineup consisted of left-armer Mitchell Starc, who claimed 10 wickets and was named player of the match, alongside seamers Scott Boland and debutant Brendan Doggett, all-rounder Cameron Green, and off-spinner nathan Lyon.
Lyon’s performance in Perth was impacted after being struck while batting by England fast bowler Mark Wood. Should Australia choose to omit their frontline spinner for the Brisbane Test, potential replacements include seamer Michael neser or all-rounder Beau Webster.
The batting lineup is also under consideration, with Usman Khawaja’s position scrutinized after he was unable to open the innings in either innings of the first Test due to injury. Travis Head was promoted to open in the second innings in Perth, scoring a significant century that helped lead Australia to victory.
Should Khawaja be left out of the team on his home ground, Josh Inglis could be in line to play, having recently scored a hundred for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions on Monday.
Australia boasts a strong record at the Gabba, having not lost an Ashes Test in Brisbane sence 1986. They have also been dominant in pink-ball cricket, losing only one of their 14 previous day-night Tests and winning all three Ashes day-nighters.
England did not include any members of their first-Test XI in a two-day pink-ball practice match between England Lions and the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, which began on Saturday.
The England team has scheduled two additional training sessions in planning for the second Test. They will resume practice at Allan Border Field on Saturday, where captain Ben Stokes is expected to address the media.
