Head returns, Kuhnemann to debut as Aussies wins toss and elects to bat in second Test against India

Australia has won the toss for the second Test match against India with skipper Pat Cummins electing to bat.

After also winning the toss and batting in the disastrous first Test in Nagpur, Cummins is hoping for a better batting display from his charges in the capital Delhi.

‘The middle looks like it’s got a little bit of grass but it’s pretty bare at both ends,’ he said.

‘So I am guessing there will be a little bit of turn there, it’s a good challenge for our team.

‘We’ve all lost games before and had to bounce back, so that’s the challenge for the group this week. It’s been a really good preparation and everyone is raring to go.’

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc have both failed in their bids to be fit for the Test match with Travis Head recalled for Matt Renshaw and Queensland left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann to make his debut in place of Scott Boland.

Marnus Labuschagne presented his state teammate Kuhnemann with his baggy green. 

Kuhnemann was playing Sheffield Shield less than a week ago, but will play as a third spinner alongside first Test sensation Todd Murphy and veteran Nathan Lyon after being called into the squad to replace Queensland teammate Mitchell Swepson.

The last time Australia picked three spinners was against Bangladesh in 2017 when Lyon, Ashton Agar and Steve O’Keefe played, as well as allrounder Glenn Maxwell.

Miserly Victorian quick Scott Boland drops out for Kuhnemann after playing an important role in Nagpur last week.

‘We feel the pitch here, the conditions, that spin will dominate the game once again and from what we understand this pitch has been used three times already this year and there’s already substantial cracking in the areas where most of the game is going to be played,’ Australia selector Tony Dodemaide said.

Australia will need to defy history to level the series, with India unbeaten in red-ball matches at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium since 1987.

India will enter the match with added motivation as prolific No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara readies to play his 100th Test.

The hosts have made just one change, with fit-again Shreyas Iyer replacing Suryakumar Yadav at No.5

The match will begin in heavily smoggy conditions, with Delhi’s air quality index rated as hazardous.