Ashes: Australia retains same XI for 2nd test

Adelaide, Australia: Michael Clarke wanted to forget the last Ashes test played in Adelaide. England captain Alastair Cook would prefer to forget the last Ashes test played in Australia. Clarke declared himself fit and ready on Wednesday to lead an unchanged Australian lineup in the second test against England. It's the first time in 12 months he's had an unchanged lineup in back-to-back tests, and comes in the wake of the 381-run demolition of England in Brisbane -- Australia's first win in 10 tests. "A nice position to be in," said Clarke, who missed a practice session this week to rest a sore right ankle but claims he's "100 percent" fit. "When the selectors hand you the same 11, it's a real positive for where the team is at and how we performed in Brisbane." The Australians considered adding allrounder James Faulkner at the expense of No. 6 batsman George Bailey to increase their bowling options, but Clarke said Shane Watson had fully recovered from a hamstring strain that restricted him to two overs in Brisbane and should offer enough backup for the frontline seamers and spinner Nathan Lyon. The defeat at the Gabba last month was England's first test loss in a year that included a series win in India and a 3-0 Ashes win at home against Australia, and it has had dramatic after-effects. Jonathan Trott quit the tour due to a stress-related illness, leaving a yawning gap at No. 3 and forcing changes in personnel and in the batting order. Cook refused to announce his lineup on the eve of the match but did agree that using two spinners was "a realistic option" on a flat wicket at the revamped Adelaide Oval, which now has a horse-shoe configuration of grandstands and has lost the grassy hills that flanked the ground last time he visited. England dominated from the start in the corresponding test at Adelaide in 2010, snaring three wickets in the first few overs -- including then captain Ricky Ponting and Clarke -- to have the Australians reeling at 3-2. Cook scored 148 and Kevin Pietersen made 227 in reply before England declared, setting up a win by an innings and 71 runs. That gave the English a 1-0 series lead and an important psychological boost that helped them ultimately claim the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years. "I certainly won't be trying to remember it," Clarke said of that first morning in Adelaide. The first test of this series ended acrimoniously with rival players trading insults and Clarke was fined because he used an expletive during a heated exchange with England tailender Jimmy Anderson that was heard on the TV broadcast. Clarke said Australia's focus "is wholly and solely on this test match" rather than the hype surrounding the sledging in Brisbane. "We'll continue to play a tough brand of cricket on the field, but ... we know there's a line you can't cross," he said. "We still have the ultimate respect for our opposition, they're a very tough team. I think you'll see the England team come out bigger and stronger after losing in Brisbane." Cook's team, aiming to be the first English squad since 1890 to win the urn four consecutive times, isn't backing down in the "war" for the Ashes. "We are desperate to come back and prove we are a good side after a loss ... and obviously Australia wants to keep us down," Cook said. "It's going to be tough cricket." England will make enforced changes, with a new batsman coming in at No. 6, and either Joe Root or Ian Bell moving up the order. Changes to the bowling attack have been mooted, with suggestions that Tim Bresnan could return to support the seamers or Monty Panesar coming in as a second spin option. "We are clear in our own mind," Cook said of the changes. "It's a tough position to fill with Trotty playing 49 games ... he was outstanding for us at No. 3 and he gave a lot of amazing contributions, so someone will have to stand up and fill that role." While Cook wouldn't proffer a lineup, Clarke had a few recommendations. He said he'd like to see Panesar selected, but thought England would likely recall Bresnan, bring Gary Ballance to bat at No. 6 and move Root up to No. 3. Lineups: Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon. 12th man: James Faulkner. England (from): Alastair Cook (captain), Michael Carberry, Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson, Monty Panesar, Chris Tremlett, Jonny Bairstow, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin.

Ashes: Australia retains same XI for 2nd test

Adelaide, Australia: Michael Clarke wanted to forget the last Ashes test played in Adelaide. England captain Alastair Cook would prefer to forget the last Ashes test played in Australia. Clarke declared himself fit and ready

Top News

Israel to begin direct talks with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah: Netanyahu

Assembly elections 2026: Polling concludes in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry | Check voter turnout

PM Modi addresses rally in Asansol: 'Change in Bengal has now become an indelible reality'

Mukul Choudhary's miraculous knock stuns KKR at Eden Gardens, LSG win by three wickets