On Friday, the Australian head coach, Justin Langer expressed “respect” for the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli putting family before cricket. The latter and his Bollywood star wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their first child in January, and he has been provided with paternity leave after the opening Test in Adelaide ends on December 21. His absence improves Australia’s chances of earning back the Border-Gavaskar trophy which they lost to India in 2017 and Team India retain it in 2018.
Talking about him, Langer said, “Virat Kohli is probably the best player I’ve ever seen in my life for so many reasons, not only batting but his energy and passion for the game, the way he fields. I’ve got so much respect for him. I’ve also got respect for him in the sense that he’s made this decision. He’s a human being like all of us… if I was giving advice to any of my players I would always say never, ever miss the birth of your children because it is one of the great things you’ll ever do.”
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Batsman Will Pucovski was named in the Test squad on Thursday, who is going through the form of his life. The right-handed batsman smashed two double centuries in Sheffield Shield innings this season.
As per the quotes in cirkcet.com.au., Langer said, “Will Pucovski is doing everything that’s humanly possible to play that first Test, and that’s something we have to weigh up; we should (also) never underestimate the job the guys have done to get us to where we are, and that philosophy and attitude have been a really strong part of the success of Australian cricket for a long time.”
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Cricket Australia has also chosen a 19-player Australia A squad to play India A and India in tour matches at Drummoyne Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground and that squad also comprises of the players from the Test team and Australian captain Tim Paine. Final sides and a captain will be chosen closer to each match.
