Opener Matthew Hayden was ruled out with injury and Chris Rogers will make his test debut for Australia on his home ground today against India in the third cricket Test.
Fast bowler Shaun Tait will also come into the side at the WACA as Australia opted for an all-pace attack for the first time since 1992 -- also against India at the same ground.
Captain Ricky Ponting confirmed Hayden had not sufficiently overcome soreness in his right hamstring and that he was too great a risk to take into the match, where Australia is chasing a record 17th successive win.
PHOTO: AFP
Spinner Brad Hogg was eligible to play after India dropped their abusive language complaint against him on Monday, but he will be 12th man.
Hayden, who has not missed a Test since 2000, could run at about 70 percent capacity, Ponting said, but was not worth the risk because he could not call on a runner if he came into the match with an existing injury.
Ponting said Rogers, 30, deserved his chance after strong form for Western Australia in domestic play over the last few seasons.
"Hayden is not fit, hasn't come up as you would have noticed by the way he's moving around the field today," Ponting said. "So Rogers will make his debut tomorrow, which is a terrific achievement for him, someone who's been in the wings for the last couple of years."
Tait, who will join Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark in the attack, has not played a Test since Australia's 2005 Ashes tour, which it won 5-0 over England.
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