Despite a heavy defeat to India in the first Test in Perth, Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that the same squad will be retained for the Adelaide Test, scheduled to begin on December 6. The decision highlights the team management’s trust in their current lineup and their belief in continuity to bounce back in the series.
India secured a commanding 295-run victory in Perth, showcasing a stunning comeback after being bowled out for a modest 150 runs in the first innings. Australia, despite initial dominance, struggled to contain India’s batting revival and faltered with the bat in their second innings.
Speaking about the squad selection, McDonald emphasized the importance of stability and backing the players to improve.
“The people in that changeroom are the same people that will be in Adelaide. It is always a consideration, wherever you go in the world, in terms of the personnel you pick for conditions,” McDonald said, as reported by the ICC.
This approach underlines the team’s strategy to rely on their existing resources rather than making drastic changes following the defeat.
The fitness of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been a talking point, with McDonald acknowledging his mixed performance in Perth. Marsh, who returned to Test cricket after a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL, bowled limited overs over the past eight months.
“We knew Mitch was slightly underdone coming in, but I thought his performance in the first innings was satisfactory,” McDonald noted. Marsh took 2/12 in the first innings but was less effective in the second.
The team’s management will monitor Marsh’s recovery and workload ahead of the Adelaide Test.
Australia began the Perth Test strongly, dismissing India for 150 runs, with Josh Hazlewood leading the charge, claiming 4/29. However, India’s second innings saw a dramatic resurgence led by a 201-run opening partnership between KL Rahul (77) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), setting a daunting target of 534 runs.
In response, Australia’s batting lineup struggled to build momentum, with Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47) providing the only significant contributions in a total of 238 all out. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer, taking 8 wickets across the match and earning the Player of the Match award.
McDonald remains optimistic about the team’s morale and their ability to regroup for the second Test.
“I think morale is pretty good. This team is really good at the highs and lows, it’s quite a level team, so we’ll be somewhere in the middle of that,” he remarked.