Overview
- Australia confirmed Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss the first Test, with Steve Smith to captain and Scott Boland plus debut hopeful Brendan Doggett widely tipped to lead the seam attack.
- England are weighing a four-quick assault in Perth, with Mark Wood expected to play after a clear scan and strong net session, and Shoaib Bashir unlikely as spin cover after a lean warm-up.
- Selectors are considering Jake Weatherald to open for Australia, which would allow Marnus Labuschagne to bat at No. 3 and could squeeze Beau Webster from the XI. India’s Shubman Gill has been reported ruled out of the Guwahati Test with Rishabh Pant to captain, and left-hander Sai Sudharsan viewed as the likely replacement after BCCI said Gill would travel under monitoring.
- Guwahati is set for a red-soil surface with pace and bounce after Kolkata’s turner, as India reassess a left-hand heavy batting order with Nitish Kumar Reddy rejoining the squad and World Test Championship points at stake.