Australia opener Will Pucovski will miss the fourth Test against India at the Gabba due to a shoulder injury.
Key points:
- Will Pucovski suffered a shoulder injury while fielding in the third Test at the SCG
- Marcus Harris will play his first Test since the 2019 Ashes series
- Australia is otherwise unchanged from the side that drew with India in Sydney
Pucovski suffered a shoulder subluxation injury while diving in the field on day five of the third Test at the SCG.
Marcus Harris will come into the side and partner David Warner — who has been deemed fit despite appearing to struggle with a groin injury in Sydney — at the top of the order.
There were no other changes to the side that drew the third Test in Sydney on Monday.
Australian skipper Tim Paine confirmed the change after the team’s final training session on Thursday morning.
“Will won’t play tomorrow,” Paine said.
“Marcus Harris will replace him … We’re looking forward to seeing what he will do.”
Harris has not played a Test since the 2019 Ashes Tour, where he made a top score of 19 in three matches.
The 28-year-old West Australian has a top score of 79 from nine Test matches, with a first-class average of 38.86 and a top score of 250.
“[Harris has] been working his backside off in our hub,” Paine said.
“He deserves his opportunity.
“He’s a really relaxed type of character, so he’s one we certainly enjoy having him in and around our group.”
Pucovski made scores of 62 and 10 in his maiden Test match, with Paine saying the medical staff needed more time to get him right for the Test than was afforded under the three-day turnaround.
“He’ll have a bit of work to do with our medicos to see where he goes from here.”
The Border-Gavaskar Test series is tantalisingly poised at 1-1, with the final and deciding Gabba Test set to start on Friday.
