Mounting injuries means playing shift for Aussies

The growing toll could also mean the second tour match against India becomes closer to a Test dress-rehearsal, with Langer considering playing more of his squad in that match rather than fly them to Adelaide.

Most of Australia‘s Test squad were expected to relocate to Adelaide after the final T20 against India on Tuesday night, but Langer confirmed it was “very, very tempting” for more players to stay in Sydney and play the pink-ball game against the tourists.

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“We’re having a close look at that,” Langer said after Sunday night’s T20 loss.

“The best practice is centre-wicket practice and no doubt the case to play a pink ball game against India under lights is a very tempting preparation for a few of your players.”

Opener David Warner (groin), Pat Cummins (rested), Josh Hazlewood (back) and Mitchell Starc (family reasons) are among those who have had their Test preparations altered just a week out from the first showdown with India in Adelaide.

Langer said there was “no way” he could bring fast bowler Cummins back into the squad for the final two T20s after Starc and Hazlewood were ruled out.

Not only do new restrictions make it hard, Langer also said Cummins needed a rest after not having been home since August, a new factor for this summer.

“Some of the simplicity of our past lives is not there. There has to be isolation (periods before joining the squad) … we couldn‘t bring him back,” Langer said.

“We‘re always considering the big picture. We know we’ve got a big Test series coming up.

“There‘s been a lot of talk about Pat not playing but … if he hadn’t spent a few days at home in this period then he might not have gone home until June next year.”

Langer spoke to the CA board about the “challenges” of playing cricket in a COVID-19 world and said putting player health first remained his priority.

“I actually addressed the CA board the other day. One of the challenges we‘ve got with such tight schedules … we’ve got six injuries now, which is really unusual,” Langer said.

“That‘s one of the challenges moving forward, when guys are playing all the tours (and have) different sorts of preparations.

“Each injury has its own individual reasons, but that‘s one of the challenges.”

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