PERTH: Indian batsman Rohit Sharma and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have been ruled out of the second Test against Australia by injury, the India cricket board (BCCI) said on Thursday. Rohit jarred his lower back while fielding during India’s victory in the series-opener at Adelaide Oval and is undergoing treatment, while Ashwin, who took 6-149 in the first test, is unavailable due to a left-sided abdominal strain. Young opener Prithvi Shaw, who missed the first Test after injuring his ankle while fielding during a tour match in Sydney is also continuing his recovery. India named a 13-man squad for the second Test which starts on Friday at the new Perth Stadium, with Hanuma Vihari coming back in for Rohit to stiffen the middle order and left-arm spin bowler Ravindra Jadeja replacing Ashwin. The fast-bowling trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah remains available, which could be significant if, as expected, the drop-in wicket at the new venue lives up to Perth’s heritage as a paradise for pacemen. Second Test squad: Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav. Published in Daily Times, December 14th 2018.