BRISBANE — England’s hopes of getting back into the Ashes hinge on the result of this week’s second Test in Brisbane.
Following their two-day defeat in Perth, the day-night match at the Gabba, a ground where England have not won since 1986, will not be easy, especially as Australia have 13 victories from the 14 pink-ball Tests they have played.
It is why Ben Stokes and his squad, heavily criticised for not decamping en masse to Canberra for the two-day practice match against a Prime Minister’s XI over the weekend, started their practice in Brisbane six days out from the second Test.
Yet both teams have plenty to think about when it comes to selection ahead of Thursday’s start.
Here, The i Paper takes you through the key questions….
Will Mark Wood play again in this series?
Joe Root insists Mark Wood will do ‘everything he can to be ready’ (Photo: Getty)
It emerged over the weekend that Wood will miss Brisbane after suffering pain in his left knee during and after the Perth Test in which he bowled just 11 overs.
The 35-year-old fast bowler did not train on either Saturday or Sunday and has been filmed by local media wearing a brace on the left knee he had surgery on last March and which ruled him out for the entire English summer.
It is to be hoped this is nothing too serious and he can play in next month’s third Test at Adelaide.
But Joe Root didn’t sound overly upbeat when talking about Wood on Sunday, saying: “His spirits are good, you know he’ll do everything he can to be ready as quickly as possible. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Who replaces him for Brisbane?
If England want to replicate the five-man pace attack that worked so well during Australia’s first innings in Perth, it would seem likely that Josh Tongue comes in for Wood.
Yet Tongue, one of three players from the Ashes squad released to join the Lions for that Canberra match, went wicketless during his 16 overs against the PM’s XI.
Might Matthew Potts, who took 2 for 40 from 16 overs in the same match, be a better option?
There is also a chance England could opt for a spinner in Brisbane, in which case Will Jacks, whose batting would strengthen the lower order from No 8, would be a serious consideration to replace Wood.
There should be no other changes from the XI that lost in Perth.
England’s predicted XI to face Australia in second Ashes Test
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wkt)
- Gus Atkinson
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
What about the Aussies?
England would surely be happy if Australia continue with Usman Khawaja at the top of the order and move Head back to No 5 after his destructive century during the Perth run chase.
Head was majestic as he flayed England’s bowlers to all parts to seal a crazy two-day contest.
At the time, Khawaja was laid up with a back injury and he has since made Cricket Australia furious after branding the Perth pitch “a piece of shit”.
This is a surface the home board were so happy with they took the unprecedented step of putting out a press release shouting about how the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee had rated it “very good”. It felt like a dig at England’s batting.
Anyway, Khawaja, 38, has been out of form and could well be dropped after scoring just two in his only innings in Perth.
It may depend on how keen Head is to open but Australia, who are notoriously conservative when it comes to selection, might just stick with the status quo.
Yet if they did buck that trend and opened with Head, it would leave a middle-order spot open for either all-rounder Beau Webster or Yorkshire-born Josh Inglis.
Has Pat Cummins been ruled out again?
Australia’s captain – and best bowler – was left out of a 14-man squad for Brisbane last week as he steps up his return from a back injury.
But Cummins has been looking good bowling in the nets with the pink ball and Australian media are reporting he could still actually play at the Gabba if he proves his fitness over the next few days.
Unlike ICC tournaments, where official squads have to be finalised in advance, teams can add players to Test squads whenever they like.
It is likely Australia will hold Cummins back for Adelaide, but he still has a chance to return in Brisbane.
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