MELBOURNE: With a growing number of injuries and all the momentum with India, Australia may pressure more test players for the day and night tour match against virat Kohliteam coach Justin langer said.
Australia fell to a six wicket loss in the second Twenty20 match against India on Sunday, surrendering the three-game series with a game to spare and scoring their third straight loss to the Tourists.
Australia had planned to send most of the team to Adelaide to prepare for the series’ opening day and night test starting on December 17, but could include more players in this week’s three-day pink ball warm-up. against India in Sydney.
“We are looking at that closely,” Langer told reporters.
“The best practice is the practice of the central wicket and certainly the case of playing a game of pink ball against India under the lights is a very tempting preparation for some of their players.”
Australia have suffered a number of injuries, with test starter David Warner (groin), closer Josh Hazlewood (back) and spinner Ashton Agar (calf) out.
Limited overs captain Aaron Finch he was ruled out of the second T20 game due to a glute problem, while paceman Mitchell Starc was excused from the last two T20 games for personal reasons.
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis was called up for Sunday’s game after battling lateral tension but did not pitch.
Langer said he had spoken with the Cricket Australia board of directors about managing players during the pandemic, forcing a full review of the international schedule.
“We have six injuries now, which is really unusual,” Langer said. “Obviously we will review it.
“That’s one of the challenges going forward, when guys are playing every tour (and have) different kinds of preparations.”
Matthew Wade led the team in Finch’s absence on Sunday, with the former captain Steve Smith again overlooked for a leadership role.
Smith was banned from leadership positions for two years after the ball-handling scandal in Cape Town in 2018, but the ban expired in March.
Langer said Smith was among “a number” considered before the selectors opted for Wade.
“There’s probably a lot of process to go through before (Smith) becomes captain again,” Langer said.
“He’s doing all the right things to show leadership without the title right now.”
Australia will play India in the third and final Q20 on Tuesday.
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