Australia’s in-form batter and India’s nemesis Travis Head passed the fitness test on Wednesday to retain his place in Australia’s playing eleven, which the hosts announced on the eve of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Announcing the eleven playing members for the match in Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning on Thursday, captain Pat Cummins confirmed the two expected changes.
Opener Sam Konstas will make his debut, replacing Nathan McSweeney, and pacer Scott Boland returned to the eleven for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
Head suffered a quad strain during the third Test in Brisbane and his fitness was under a cloud.
Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
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