3rd Test: Debuts for Will Pucovski, Navdeep Saini as Australia Win Toss and Opt to Bat vs India

SYDNEY: Will Pucovski was unbeaten 14 on debut as Australia reached lunch at 21-1 after a rain-shortened opening session in the third cricket test against India.

The 22-year-old opener faced 29 balls and hit one boundary, a top-edge to a short ball as he attempted a pull shot, before rain stopped play after 7.1 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Australians won the toss and batted after making two changes to its lineup, including the return of David Warner from injury and a test debut for 22-year-old Pucovski.

Warner lasted only eight balls and scored five runs before he chased a fuller, wider delivery from Mohammed Siraj and got a thick edge to Cheteshwar Pujara, who took a neat, two-handed catch over his left shoulder in the fourth over.

Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne (2 not out) moved the total from 6-1 to 21-1 before the break.

Siraj had figures of 1-14 off 3.1 overs and Jasprit Bumrah was 0-7 from four overs.

The four-match series is tied 1-1 after Australia won the opening day-night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne last week.

India also made two changes for the SCG match, with Rohit Sharma replacing opener Mayank Agarwal after showing no signs of discomfort from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the limited-overs portion of the tour and the first two tests. Hes also deputy to stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, whose gritty century guided India to victory in Melbourne.

India made an enforced change to its bowling attack, with 28-year-old right-arm fast bowler Navdeep Saini selected for a test debut to replace Umesh Yadav, who joined fellow fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma on the injured list.

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