Australia vs Sri Lanka 2019: Australia Name Playing XI For Second Test
Australia's captain Tim Paine. (Photo credit should read ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia’s captain Tim Paine has confirmed an unchanged playing XI for the second Test match against Sri Lanka. The hosts had won the first Test match by an innings and 40 runs and it was an imperative win for Australia after losing the series against India. Thus, Marcus Stoinis will have to wait for his chance in the red ball version. Meanwhile, the second Test match will take place in Canberra from tomorrow.

On the other hand, Australia had ticked the right boxes in the opening Test match. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne scored 84 and 81 runs respectively to help put their team noses in front.

Marais Erasmus, Tim Paine, Australia vs India 2018
Tim Paine (Credits – Getty)

Australia will like to continue with the impetus.

Furthermore, Pat Cummins scalped four wickets in the first innings and took six wickets in the second dig. Thus, Australia’s vice-captain of this series was awarded the Man of the Match.

Australia skipper Tim Paine is happy that he hasn’t altered the final XI.

“We’re unchanged which is nice,” Paine told reporters in Canberra.

“Coming off a good win we are happy with our combination.

“This pitch is probably slightly different, we just think that we’ll be able to get more overs out of Marnus (Labuschagne) on a pitch like this.”

On the other hand, Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal hasn’t unveiled the playing XI of their side. The tourists will name their last XI at the time of toss. In fact, the visitors will be forced to make some changes due to their injury woes.

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Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc
Image Courtesy: Getty

Meanwhile, Tim Paine revealed there was no thought of dropping, out of form Mitchell Starc, who hasn’t hit the straps in the recent past.

“We’re still reasonably happy with his output,” Paine said.

“He’s not 100 per cent at his best but I think that’s a sign of how good a bowler he is that he’s still finding ways to pick up wickets at certain times, and like I said post-Brisbane Test that when he gets it right he’s going to be devastating”.

The second Test match will take place at Canberra from tomorrow. Thus, the hosts will like to continue with the impetus whereas Sri Lanka will like to turn the tides in their favour.

Australia XI: Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Kurtis Patterson, Tim Paine (c/wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon.

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