Harry Grant will captain Australia in the second Ashes Test, after being handed the reins as Isaah Yeo misses with concussion.
Australia adjusted a relatively settled squad for this weekend’s second Test, with Yeo the only out following the 26-6 series-opening win.
Penrith prop Lindsay Smith will come into the side for Yeo, with Lindsay Collins elevated to the starting side and Pat Carrigan moving to lock.
But it is Grant’s rise to the captaincy that is the most notable for the second Test at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The 27-year-old has led the Storm since the start of last year, with this marking his first time leading a major representative team.
Penrith co-captain Nathan Cleary and Queensland State of Origin skipper Cameron Munster had loomed as the other candidates.
“Harry, and all of the senior players for that matter, stepped up after Isaah’s unfortunate injury last week,” Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said.
“While we’d love to have Isaah out there, he’ll still be contributing in many other ways around the group this week.
“He’s a natural leader, and so too is Harry so we’re in great hands this week.
“I’m really pleased with the way we’ve started the series, but we’re into a new week now and our focus is preparing well and being at our very best this Saturday.”
(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Yeo will be able to return for the Kangaroos for the third and final Test at Leeds, assuming he passes through all concussion protocols.
England are expected to name their squad later in the week, as they fight to stay in the series and reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 1970.
Head coach Shaun Wane seeks a “proper Test match” in the second encounter of the Ashes series against Australia.
Wane will name a 19-man squad for their must-win encounter at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and while giving little else away, said he has plans to tweak his starting line-up.
Wane told a press conference: “We’ll look into it about what we need to do and make sure the team is a lot more equipped.
“It’s not easy trying to find that blend, but at the end of the day I want a team to go out on Saturday and make it look like a proper Test match. (Last Saturday) didn’t look like a proper Test match to me.”
Wane confirmed every player in his squad who did not feature at Wembley was in contention following a disappointing performance.
He added: “It wasn’t physical. They were better in many areas, so this week has to look like a real Test match and we need to give a better account of ourselves. Whether I make two or four changes, I’m not sure yet.”
Newshttps://https://ift.tt/7hM0ISR tweaks Kangaroos line-up after Yeo knocked out of Ashes calculations
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