Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of the second Test between Australia and India from Delhi.
Australia was humiliated by an innings and 132 runs in the first Test and the tourists will be out for redemption to avoid the series being over after two matches.
Watch Australia’s Tour of India. Every Test & ODI live & ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The Aussies are set to make mass changes to its line-up as selectors toss up going with a traditional looking side or alternatively picking as many as three spinners.
Play is scheduled to begin at 3pm AEDT. Follow below for live updates.
4.15pm – Warner out after Australia consolidate
David Warner has gotten out for a third time in a row to a right-armer around the wicket, Mohammed Shami cramping him for room and getting the ball to jag away, presenting a straightforward catch for KS Bharat.
Warner never looked comfortable at the crease, copping a series of body blows as well as a knock to the head in his 44-ball 15.
Marnus Labuschagne comes to the crease with the score at 50/1.
Usman Khawaja is settled on 29 not out.
3.30pm – Australia make steady start
Australia have made a steady start to the second Test, sitting at 0-19.
David Warner is not off the mark after 19 deliveries, with Usman Khawaja doing most of the heavy lifting behind square.
Not too many chances in the first half hour of play, with KS Bharat dropping a difficult chance off Khawaja down the leg side early.
David Warner also successfully overturned an LBW decision on review, although he has not looked convincing against the right-arm Shami around the wicket.
3.00pm – Second Test gets underway in Delhi
Australia have begun the first innings at the Feroz Shah Kotla, with Mohammed Shami taking the new ball and immediately coming around the wicket to David Warner and shaping the ball steeply in.
Both of Warner’s dismissals this series have been to right-armers around the wicket, with Shami sending his off stump cartwheeling after just five balls in Nagpur.
With his sixth delivery, Warner was rapped on the back pad, Shami getting one to duck in, given out and overturned after an immediate review – replays showed Warner edged the ball onto his back pad.
2.30pm – Australia win the toss and bat
Australia have won the toss and will bat in Delhi, with Matthew Kuhnemann and Travis Head coming into the XI for Matthew Renshaw and Scott Boland, as reported.
India make one change to their XI, with Suryakumar Yadav dropped after his debut Test for Kolkata Knight Riders batter Shreyas Iyer.
Australian XI: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (wk) Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins (c), Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy
Indian XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohlu, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
2.00pm – Matthew Kuhnemann makes Test debut
Matthew Kuhnemann has been presented with Baggy Green number 466 from state teammate Marnus Labuschagne.
Kuhnemann has has 35 first class wickets at an average of 34.80 from 13 matches, only making his Sheffield Shield debut with Queensland in 2021.
ABC’s Quentin Hull has described it as an ‘extraordinary story’, with Kuhnemann only picked as a cover for Mitchell Swepson, who leaves for the expected birth of his first child.
Cameron Green is set to stay on the sidelines for Australia with a finger injury still giving the 23-year-old some pain, with Travis Head set for a recall.
The South Australian was spotted rolling his arm over, suggesting his part-time off-spin might be called upon.
Head was arguably the batter of the summer for the Aussies, averaging 87.50 in the summer to date and racking up 525 runs, but was dropped for the first Test in Nagpur after struggling in Sri Lanka last year.
Head will play his first Test match in India.
1.45pm – Delhi smog chokes Australians
The infamous Delhi smog is well and truly present, although locals have claimed that it will clear by the time play gets underway.
Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and consistently ranks at the bottom of air quality ratings.
Sri Lankan players were forced to wear masks during a 2017 Test match at the Feroz Shah Kotla, with the match stopping temporarily after coach Nic Pothas said his players were “coming off the field and vomiting”.
1.30pm – Aussies set to pick another debutant
The Australians are set to drop another selection bombshell after their humiliating defeat within three days in the first Test in Nagpur, with left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, flown over as cover for his Queensland teammate Mitchell Swepson, set to be selected for his debut.
Swepson was not in the selection frame while on tour in India as the sole legspinner, having struggled last year in Pakistan, and Kuhnemann was not expected to play, but with Australia’s comprehensive defeat in the first Test may prompt some bold selections.
While Ashton Agar was selected for the tour and in the final Test of the home summer in Sydney on the basis of his left-arm spin, the West Australian has reportedly struggled in practice over in India and sits last in the pecking order of the four tweakers taken on tour.
Kuhnemann, 26, has 35 first class wickets at an average of 34.80 from 13 matches.
Australia is desperate to pick a left arm spinner, and Allan Border has warned even Todd Murphy’s spot is under pressure.
Story Credit: news.com.au