Rogers set to play in third Ashes Test
Chris Rogers has completed three days of training and is set to play the third Ashes Test.
Rogers was restricted to Darren Lehmann’s throwdowns and Nathan Lyon’s offspin on Sunday, his first hit since retiring hurt due to an alarming dizzy spell at Lord’s.
However, the 37-year-old was worked over by pacemen in the nets on Monday and Tuesday.
Rogers made it through both hits fine and is fully expected to be a part of Australia’s XI when the third Test starts in Birmingham at 7.30pm (CST) tonight.
Australia is likely to be unchanged, meaning Brad Haddin’s international career is likely to be over.
Peter Nevill will stay behind the stumps after an impressive debut at Lord’s.
It means Haddin, who turns 38 in October, is unlikely to feature in the five-Test series unless Nevill suffers an injury.
There is no word on Haddin’s potential retirement plans, but the keeper waited two months after the World Cup to announce his one-day career was over.
As for England, two players whose Test careers looked to have been ended by Australia could play at Edgbaston tonight.
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With Mark Wood is battling an ankle injury, England captain Alastair Cook revealed Finn could be included in the team.
Wood was unable to bowl in the outdoor nets on Tuesday due to heavy rain in Birmingham, and Cook said a decision would be made on his fitness on the morning of the match.
Finn has not played a Test since being savaged by the Australian batsman in the Ashes opener at Trent Bridge two years ago.
Although England won the match by 14 runs, the gangly paceman struggled terribly and finished with unflattering match figures of 2-117 from his 25 overs and was then axed for the remainder of the series.
He was selected for a return in Australia later that year, but failed to break into a team that was demolished 5-0 then sent home early – his bowling deemed not good enough to play in the one-day international series.
Despite his previous struggles, Cook believes Finn has recovered his form and confidence after impressing against New Zealand in last month’s one-day series.
“We are a little bit concerned about Woody and will have to make that call tomorrow,” Cook said.
“Finny has bowled really well for Middlesex this season and also in the recent one-dayers with New Zealand,” Cook said.
Bairstow, who last played a Test in Sydney 18 months ago, is the form of his life, having scored two centuries, a double ton and an unbeaten 74 in his last three county matches for Yorkshire.
“He’ll be full of confidence, but I would hope the attack he’s about to face is a little bit different to what he’s faced in county cricket,” Michael Clarke said.
Like Finn, Bairstow was exposed by the Australians in 2013/14, passing 50 just once in nine innings and scoring a duck on his last visit to the crease in the fifth Test in Sydney.
However, Cook is confident the 25-year-old is ready to prosper at Test level.
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“He toured with us in the Caribbean and scored a brilliant 90 in St Kitts during a mixed match and was unrecognisable,” he said.
“He has certainly allowed to improve and he couldn’t be in a better place.”
Meanwhile, Michael Clarke has dismissed suggestions Australia were unduly chirpy in the second Test.
Ben Stokes recently complained about how vocal the tourists were as they charged to a 405-run win at Lord’s, which squared the series 1-1.
Stokes, who physically clashed with Mitchell Johnson during the 2013-14 Ashes, vowed to fire up in the third Test.
“Australia really let us know they were on top of us by the way they were speaking to us out on the pitch,” Stokes told the Daily Mail.
“I didn’t think I could get any more hyped up for a game of cricket, but the way they let us know they were on top didn’t sit too well.”
Clarke didn’t believe it was a fair assessment.
“I don’t think the guys have been any different, whether it be the first Test or the second Test,” he said.
“Whether it be against West Indies, India last summer or England here.
“Both Test matches have been played in the right spirit.”
Clarke tipped the cricket would remain cordial throughout the five-Test series.
“My expectation is the rest of the series will continue to be played the right way. Tough cricket on the field, but certainly respectful,” he said.
“I’m sure this Test will be no different.”
Counterpart Alastair Cook also distanced himself from Stokes’ comments.
“We’ve made a conscious effort speaking after Lord’s to concentrate just on what we do,” Cook said.
“We can’t worry about what Australia do. We’ve got to concentrate on getting our levels back to where they should be.”
