Boxing Day Test: Australia Charged-up After India's Failed Sledging Tactics

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood says his team's refusal to be intimidated by India's verbal sledges and physical play during the second Test will give it an advantage when the teams meet again on Friday in the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Warner Pledges Tit-for-Tat Ploy vs India)

India greeted Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson with a barrage of short balls and some heated verbal exchanges. But Australia's response, led by Johnson, helped propel them to a 2-0 series lead in the four-Test series, winning in Brisbane by four wickets in four days. (Bhuvneshwar May Return for Boxing Day Test)

"It backfired at the Gabba with them trying to get stuck into us and Mitch fired back," Hazlewood said on Wednesday. "It was good to see him pick up some wickets in the second innings and really fire up and bowl fast." (India Don't Believe They Can Win Away From Home: Hayden)

Johnson scored 88 runs from 93 balls to help revive the team's first innings and turn the match in Australia's favor.

Hazlewood took five wickets in the first innings and another two in the second in his Test debut in Brisbane. (Michael Clarke to do Commentary During Third Test)

Australia received some good news on the batting front Wednesday when David Warner and Shane Watson returned to training.

Warner batted for the first time since hurting his left thumb on the final day of the second Test. (Warner, Watson Shake off Injury Fears)

"It was a bit sore when it hit the splice and toe of the bat, but that's to be expected," Warner said. "It's going to be quite painful, but I can bear that pain and get out there on Boxing Day."

Watson shook off the physical and psychological effects of being hit in the head by a James Pattinson bouncer and returned to batting in the nets. (Shaun Marsh in Latest Injury Scare for Australia)

On Nov. 25, Australia teammate Phillip Hughes was hit by a bouncer during a domestic match in Sydney, and died in hospital two days later. Warner and Watson were on the field that day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. (Indian Spinners not too Impressive vs Australia: Hogg)

"It probably shook him (Watson) up a lot more than he would have anticipated," Warner said. "He was close to Hughesy. It brought back a bit of a memory for him and he got back on the horse and trained again today which was fantastic."

Meanwhile, all-rounder Akshar Patel will replace the injured Ravindra Jadeja in India's squad for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

Patel, who turns 21 in January, is a left-arm spinner who has taken 14 wickets in nine one-day internationals but has not played a Test. (BCCI Maintains Opposition to DRS in Current Form)

Jadeja has a shoulder injury and will return home to undergo rehabilitation, Indian cricket officials said in a statement.

Teams:

Australia (2 to be omitted): David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (captain), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle.

India: to be named.