Rohit doubtful for fifth Australia Test

Head coach declines to confirm his participation in fifth Test

India coach Gautam Gambhir declined to confirm that captain Rohit Sharma would play the fifth Test against Australia, committing only to naming the team before the toss on Friday.

Skipper Rohit has struggled for runs in the first four Tests of the five-match series, which India trail 2-1 after a loss in Melbourne earlier this week.

Asked on Thursday why the coach was taking the pre-match conference rather than the captain as is usual, Gambhir bridled.

"Everything is fine with Rohit and I don't think it's anything traditional," he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"The head coach is here, that should be fine, that should be good enough. We're going to have a look at the wicket and finalise (our team) tomorrow."

When asked specifically whether Rohit would be in that team, Gambhir was non-committal.

"As I just said, we're going to have a look at the wicket and probably announce the playing XI tomorrow. So the answer remains the same."

Gambhir did confirm that pace bowler Akash Deep was out of the match with a back issue and denied media reports that he had read the riot act to his team after the loss in Melbourne.

"Those are just reports," he said. "That's not the truth, and I don't think I need to answer to any reports. "There were some honest words, that's all I can say. Honesty is extremely important if you want to probably go on to do great things."

Gambhir spoke repeatedly about the importance of honesty within the dressing room but said no specific discussions had been held with Rohit and his predecessor as captain Virat Kohli about their roles in the future of the Indian team.

"The only conversation was how we can win the next Test match," he said. "No other conversation has taken place, because we know how important this Test is."

Gambhir said he had every confidence that India would win the match to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep alive their hopes of a spot in this year's World Test Championship final against South Africa.

"Extremely, extremely confident," he said. "We've got the skill set, we've got the individuals. We've got everything in that dressing room that can win a test match here.

"Not only here, probably (to) go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well. So extremely confident."

" Extremely confident," he said. "We know we have the skill sets, the individuals, we´ve got everything in that dressing room that can win a Test match here.

"Not only here, but will probably go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well." REUTERS

Marsh dropped

All-rounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut for Australia in place of the dropped Mitchell Marsh in the fifth Test against India on Friday, captain Pat Cummins said on Thursday.

Australia won the fourth Test by 184 runs in Melbourne earlier this week to take a 2-1 lead in the series but still need to avoid a loss in Sydney to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.

Marsh, Australia's Twenty20 captain, scored only 73 runs over the first four Tests and bowled sparingly as Australia bounced back from a thrashing in the Perth opener.

"Beau's been in the squad for a few Tests now, Mitchy hasn't quite got the runs or the wickets he'd have liked so we thought it was time for a freshen up," Cummins told reporters at Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's a shame for Mitchy because we know how much he brings to the team, but we feel like now is a good week for Beau to get a chance.

"(Marsh) was in the side this summer for being a top six batter. I think when he's at his best, he gets in the side on his batting alone and his bowling is a bonus."

Webster, 31, has not represented his country in any format but has scored 5,297 runs and taken 148 wickets in 93 first class matches, mainly for his state side, Tasmania.

"He's just been one of those star performers for Tasmania with bat or ball or in the field," said Cummins. "He always seems to have a big impact. Quite aggressive. Can change the game, like we've seen Mitch Marsh or Travis Head or Alex Carey do in that middle order."