Australia announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test match against India starting Thursday and the hosts made two massive changes to their side. Scott Boland made his way into the playing XI in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood while teenage opener Sam Konstas replaced Nathan McSweeney. Kontas is all set to become Australia's youngest Test debutant while Travis Head was declared fit.
Konstas also featured for the Prime Minister’s XI in a pink-ball warm-up match against India at Manuka Oval. He scored an outstanding 107 off 97 balls, including 14 fours and a six, against a formidable Indian bowling attack featuring Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja.
In the ongoing Sheffield Shield season, Konstas is the fifth-highest run-getter with 471 runs in five matches at an average of 58.87, including two centuries and a fifty, with a best score of 152.
Pat Cummins on Travis Head fitness
Speaking about Travids Head fitness Cummins said, "Trav is good to go, so he will play. He just ticked off some final things today and yesterday," said Cummins. "No stress, no worries about injury for Trav, so he will go into the game fully fit. I don't think you'll see too much management of him through the game. Maybe around fielding if he's a bit uncomfortable, but he's fully fit,"
Travis Head picked up an injury during the third Test in Brisbane and the superstar batter conceded that he had been feeling gingerly about his quad. He participated in a running fitness test and net session on Christmas Day.
Australia's Playing XI For Boxing Day test
Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
