Cult hero Boland back, Marsh fit to bowl for Australia

Scott Boland will replace injured paceman Josh Hazlewood in Australia's sole change for the second Test against India, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been passed fit to bowl, captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Thursday.

The 35-year-old Boland will play his first Test since last year's Ashes in England when he fronts up for the pink ball match at the Adelaide Oval starting on Friday.

Boland has been a fan favorite in Australia since his 2021 Test debut at the age of 32 when he took an innings haul of 6-7 at his home Melbourne Cricket Ground to drive the hosts to a big win over England.

Cummins said Adelaide conditions suited the big Victorian quick.

"Traditionally here, there is normally a little bit of nip, which obviously suits Scotty quite well," Cummins told media at the Adelaide Oval.

"All of last summer he was geared up to go, but no one fell over.

"It feels like it's been quite a while (since Boland has played). As a captain, it's pretty awesome to have someone like Scotty come straight in.

"You know he can bowl a huge amount of overs if needed, he is super consistent and has performed at this level."

Australia trail 1-0 in the five-Test series against India after being thrashed in the Perth opener by 295 runs.

Marsh pulled up sore after bowling 17 overs at Perth Stadium, prompting selectors to add uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad as injury cover.

Cummins said he expected Marsh to bowl at some stage in the day-night Test despite carrying a reported back injury and not bowling at training.

"I'm guessing at some point, he will be required. It's not a huge concern, you would probably need to speak to the physio," said Cummins.

"He will ... prioritise his overs for the game instead of in the nets."

Australia's capitulation in Perth triggered damning assessments of the team's performance in home media.

Another loss in Adelaide would mean three home Test defeats in succession for the hosts for the first time since 1988.

Cummins said his team tried not to pay much attention to the criticism and had shown they could bounce back when under pressure in the past.

"We've been in similar situations, whether it's World Cups or other series, in must-win situations," said Cummins.

"We know that we weren't at our best and have a few things to work on."

Tough transition for ageing team

Meanwhile, incoming Cricket Australia (CA) boss Todd Greenberg said Australia will need tough conversations about regenerating an ageing team amid concerns of a coming exodus of senior players.

Australia fielded only one player under 30 in debutant opener Nathan McSweeney in the first Test against India in Perth where Pat Cummins' side were thrashed by 295 runs.

Greenberg, who will take over from Chief Executive Nick Hockley at the end of the home summer, acknowledged the challenge facing Australia, while noting players are enjoying longer careers due to better management.

"We do have a more ageing side, particularly in red-ball cricket, and that won't be easy," Greenberg told Australian media in Adelaide on Thursday.

"There have to be hard and honest conversations between players and staff, and I think those are happening, to be fair.

"In saying that, though, the professionalism of modern athletes are tending to take them longer in their careers; the way we take care of them, the way we rehab them, the way they take care of themselves.

"I think it's a very fine balance."

Australia rested all Test players from the entire T20 series played recently against Pakistan and a number of them from the One-day International series with a view to keeping the squad fresh for the five-Test series against India.

The white-ball matches were poorly attended, leading to heavy criticism from media and former players who accused cricket officials of short-changing the fans.

Greenberg said CA could improve its communications with the public even if selection decisions were often polarising.

"We want to explain the reasons why we might do certain things," he said.

"And again, that might polarise opinion. Sometimes people might not agree, and that's okay, but I think it starts from the premise of being really strong communicators."