Australia may have thrashed England at Lord’s but they still have to make some selection decisions ahead of the third Test in Birmingham.
The sight of opener Chris Rogers, who made 173 in Australia’s first innings at Lord’s, suffering a dizzy spell early on Sunday when batting second time around sparked fears the 37-year-old was suffering from delayed concussion after being hit on the helmet by James Anderson on Friday.
Rogers missed Australia’s recent Test series win in the Caribbean after being concussed while batting in the nets.
Australia also have a tricky dilemma to solve when it comes to the question of their wicket-keeper at Edgbaston. Peter Nevill impressed on debut at Lord’s with seven catches and a breezy 45 in his only innings.
But he only got his chance behind the stumps after the experienced Brad Haddin, his mentor at New South Wales, withdrew because of unspecified “family reasons”.
Haddin is still with the tour party, however, and Australia could use their upcoming three-day tour match with Derbyshire starting on Thursday as a way of testing his readiness to return.
Far more straightforward was the performance at Lord’s of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, called into the side after Shane Watson was dropped following Australia’s 169-run defeat in the first Test.
– #360cricket: Time for England to look at Mark Footitt
– Ashes: Bayliss warns English batsmen of what's to come
– VIDEO: Cook and Clarke react to second Ashes Test
– #360stats: England vs Australia, Ashes second Test review
Marsh weighed in with handy wickets, looking a far more threatening bowler than fellow seamer Watson, and some useful runs.
“It’s always tough to have those decisions to make, one forced and one unforced,” said Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
“We were really pleased with both performances, from Mitchell and Peter. They did a really good job for us and injected some enthusiasm in the group, played really well and did their job.”
Australia are still waiting on the latest medical update regarding Rogers’s condition but Lehmann said: “He’s all right.”
With Rogers’s participation in the third Test set to be a matter of medical clearance alone, the issue of who keeps wicket in that match promises to be the most taxing issue for Australia.
However, it is one they are particularly well-qualified to answer this trip as panel chief Rodney Marsh, one of Australia’s greatest wicket-keepers, is the on-tour selector.
“Selection’s always difficult, so Rodney and I will have to sit down and work out which way we go,” said former Australia batsman
Lehmann.
“We have to get Brad back playing cricket before we cross that bridge.”
