Lance Morris Released from Australian Test Squad, Will Join Perth Scorchers for BBL Clashes 

Australia has made a solitary change to its roster for the upcoming Boxing Day Test, as uncapped fast bowler Lance Morris has been released to join the Perth Scorchers.

Following a commanding 360-run victory over Pakistan in the Perth Stadium series-opener, Australia is poised to maintain an unchanged playing XI for the MCG Test.

The formidable trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, supported by Nathan Lyon’s milestone 500th Test wicket, comfortably dismantled the Pakistan batting lineup in the fourth innings, leaving them well-rested for the upcoming challenge in Melbourne.

Expressing confidence in their fitness, Cummins stated, “I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar lineup at this stage.” With Morris now available, the trio aims to spearhead Australia to another series triumph in Melbourne.

Lance Morris, despite calls from former captain Ian Chappell for his inclusion, has been omitted from the Test squad. The 25-year-old speedster will now feature for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League, facing the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday and Boxing Day, respectively.

Chappell expressed his hope that Morris gets a chance in the playing XI to showcase his skills rather than just being named in the squad consistently without getting an actual chance.

At the moment, the Australian trio are going a great job for the team unfront and in that case, it is unlikely that selectors will go for any changes because why make chops and changes when nothing is broken in the team.

Morris has been around the team for a long time, he toured India for Border-Gavasker test series, however, wasn’t handed any chance because Australia decided to go with spin heavy attack.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both have 242 test wickets to their name and at the MCG they will definitely like to add few more to their wicket tally against a fragile batting order of Pakistan.

Australian squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi