Spinner Nathan Lyon, top order batsman Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Moises Henriques have been omitted after being selected in the squad that defeated Sri Lanka 4-1 away
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh leads a 14-man squad packed with international experience, a group featuring Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Joel Paris, Matthew Renshaw and Chris Tremain.
The India 'A' team suffered a humiliating eight-wicket loss to Australia after being shot out for a mere 55 runs in the opening match of a quadrangular One-Day series in Townsville, on Sunday.
The visiting Pakistani cricketers were subjected to racial abuse during the third Test against New Zealand in Napier but the team manager has ruled out lodging a formal protest about the episode. According to a report in The Dominion Post, racist remarks were hurled at the Pakistani cricketers on Saturday from the corporate box at McLean Park hired by National MP Chris Tremain's brother Mark and his 17 friends.
Melbourne will host the traditional Boxing Day Test before the final match is played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3.
Australia pick two uncapped players for first two Tests
Following is a fact box on the second Test of the four-match series between Australia and India:
Srikar Bharat's splendid hundred and his century stand with Kuldeep Yadav put India A in command over Australia A in the second unofficial Test at Alur, Bengaluru, on Monday.
Following is a fact file on the first Test match between Australia and India in Adelaide and how the teams have performed at the Adelaide Oval over the years:
All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been excluded from a 25-player squad for an intra-Australia clash that will go a long way to deciding the makeup of Tim Paine's Ashes side.
Mandeep Singh stroked a brilliant 95 while Yuzvendra Chahal claimed four wickets to help India 'A' clinch the Quadrangular one-day series, thrashing Australia 'A' by 57 runs in the final, at Harrup Park in Mackay, on Sunday.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann predicted Wednesday that sledging is likely to be part of the mix when they confront South Africa in a five-match one-day international series. Skipper Steve Smith had lamented the quiet, virtually shy approach of his Test team during a recent 3-0 series loss in Sri Lanka. "Steve hit it right on the head," said Lehmann after the Australian squad arrived in Johannesburg for a series, which begins at SuperSport Park in Centurion next Friday.
Factbox on the four-Test series between Australia and India, which begins on Thursday
Paine's batting lineup has been rated the worst Australia has ever, so the bowlers could well be under pressure
A century from stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis lifted South Africa to a huge 142-run win over Australia and a 2-0 lead in the five-match One-day International series at The Wanderers on Sunday.
England opener Michael Carberry looks set to make his Ashes debut next week after being included in the team to face an Invitational XI in a warm-up match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
How do India and Australia's teams stack up? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
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