Australia’s starting XI for the second Ashes Test remains unknown less than a day out from the first ball in Brisbane, with a further inspection of the Gabba pitch required before a team, which may yet contain Pat Cummins, is named by the hosts.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith fronted an expectant media on Wednesday but was unable to reveal anything about the exact make-up of the lineup, though he left the door open for a shock return to the team for Cummins, who was forced to miss the first Test due to a back injury.
The fast bowler was initially left out of Australia’s 15-man squad for the second match of the series, but still travelled to Brisbane to continue his recovery with the rest of the squad. Smith said he was progressing well and could yet be drafted in at the 11th hour.
“He’s looked pretty good to me, the way he’s bowled in the nets,” Smith said. “Obviously games are different intensity but he’s tracking really nicely, he knows his body well.
“We’ll wait and see but like I said he’s close. He’s done everything really well the last little bit and we’ll see after three o’clock [on Wednesday] and we look at that wicket whether he’s an option or not.”
A return to the side for Cummins that appeared unlikely just a few days ago would mean Perth debutant Brendan Doggett or even spin veteran Nathan Lyon would miss out.
Smith refused to guarantee Lyon’s place in the team when asked whether Lyon would make the final list.
“Not sure,” he said. “We’ll look at the surface as I said and sum things up from there. “Here’s a place Nathan has done really well in the past, he’s a quality bowler. We’ll weigh up the options and see how we go.”
Josh Inglis will also have to wait to learn whether he has earned a recall to the side. The batter is the leading candidate to come into the XI in place of the injured Usman Khawaja, and Travis Head touted to open the batting again after his heroics in Perth.
“A heap of things are on the table,” Smith said. “We’ll wait and see what the wicket is like and from there we’ll determine a playing XI.
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“[Inglis] is obviously a pretty attacking batsman. Did really well on his debut in Sri Lanka, he’s been in really good form ... He plays fast bowling really nicely. So if he gets his opportunity I’m sure he’ll do really well for us”.
Along with Inglis, Beau Webster is in the mix to earn a recall to the team at No 6, on the assumption Head opens the batting alongside Jake Weatherald, and Cam Green moves up to No 5.
Smith said a final decision on the lineup could be made later on Wednesday, but equally it could be delayed until the day of the match. Play gets under way at the Gabba at 2pm local time/3pm AEDT on Thursday.