Australian coach Justin Langer has admitted that it would take a 'courageous' man to consider changing the side that demolished India for the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG.
Australia takes a commanding 1-0 lead into the Test match after defeating India inside three days at Adelaide Oval, highlighted by a freak period of bowling between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to dismiss India for 36.
With India set to miss Virat Kohli (childbirth) and Mohammed Shami (arm) for the Test match, Langer has all but conceded that he will select the same line-up for the second Test.
"I'd be a pretty courageous man to change the XI for this Test match after the last one," Langer told reporters on Thursday.
"At this stage, unless something happens over the next few days – and they can happen in the world we live in – we'll go in with the same XI."
The only change that had been flagged was the return of David Warner, however, the opener has failed to overcome a nagging groin injury.
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Whilst Warner is unable to join the squad until January 1 due to health and safety protocols around COVID-19, Langer admits that is hopeful that he would be fit for the New Year's Test.
“Davey had a good hit yesterday, he’s still a bit of a way off with his running. We know how dynamic he is, there is no one more dynamic in the game with his running between the wickets and the way he fields," he said.
“He wants to make sure that he is 100% for that because he gets great energy personally and as a group.
“These selections have a funny way of working themselves out, we can try and hypothesis as much as we want this far out but my experience is that it has a funny way of working itself out when it comes to the time that you have it to it.
"We're very hopeful...fingers crossed, he's just having a bit of trouble running at full speed. When he gets that back and feels confident, of course he'll come back into our team."
Where that Test match will be played remains a mystery as Cricket Australia officials deal with a number of border closures due to a spike in cases in NSW.
With the board set to met this afternoon, Langer was happy to leave the decision making in their hands as he looks to ensure that his side remains focused on Saturday's game.
“We can only control what we can control,” he said on the changing schedule.
“If you get distracted by things that are completely out of your control, you literally go mad.
“It is incredibly complex when you have to potentially change a venue, it’s not just a matter of ‘that sounds like a good idea’, there’s broadcasters, so many stakeholders who are a part of the overall decision.
“I know that people are working overtime, I think Cricket Australia’s board has a meeting today so I’m sure that they will come up with the right decision for the game.”