Australia captain Michael Clarke has warned of a tough reception for returning England batsman Jonny Bairstow, who will replace Gary Ballance for the third Ashes Test.
Bairstow averages 108.88 from his 12 innings in county cricket this season, but must prove he can transfer that dominance to the international stage and overcome a Test mark of 26.95.
His previous Test innings was a duck in Sydney at the end of the 2013/14 whitewash and Clarke is confident a pace trio of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will present a much sterner test for Bairstow.
“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,” Clarke said.
“We’ve looked at footage in the lead-up to this Test match, we know what we have to bowl and we need the discipline to put the ball there consistently.”
Australia have also confirmed Peter Nevill will retain the gloves having deputised impressively for Brad Haddin at Lord’s in the previous Test.
Nevill pouched seven catches and 45 entertaining runs on debut and is likely to continue even though the vastly experienced Haddin is available again, having withdrawn from the second Test due to personal reasons. Clarke said Haddin “will see his role now as staying well prepared and helping Nev”.
“He has played in these conditions and toured England a lot, so his experience can really help Nevill.”
A final decision is also imminent on Chris Rogers, who batted in the nets on Monday and yesterday after being diagnosed with an inner ear balance problem stemming from a James Anderson bouncer to the helmet in the second Test at Lord’s.
Rogers said he thought his career was finished after suffering an on-field dizzy spell.
“If it was concussion (at Lord’s), I would have definitely thought that maybe that was it (for my career),” Rogers, who plans to retire after the Ashes.
Bell knows now is time to ring
Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook has backed Ian Bell to return to form following the veteran’s promotion to No 3 for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Bell, England’s most experienced batsman, having made his Test debut 11 years ago, has struggled for runs during the Ashes thus far with 72 runs from four innings.
There had been speculation that, with England repeatedly suffering top-order collapses, Bell might be dropped for the third Test at his Warwickshire home ground starting today after Australia levelled the five-match series at 1-1 with a crushing 405-run win at Lord’s.
But despite his poor form Bell has been promoted up from No 4 in the order after England rejigged their line-up.
Jonny Bairstow comes in for Gary Ballance, and England may also need to call up paceman Steven Finn in place of Mark Wood who has an ankle problem. “With the rainy weather today Woody can’t bowl outside so we’re a little bit concerned about making a call on him,” said Cook.
On Bell, Cook said: “It’s a great opportunity to get in and make his mark on the game. He’s a proven international player and I think he’ll relish the chance to bat at three.”
Bell, whose 562 runs at an average of 62 played a key role in England’s 2013 home Ashes series win, told Sky Sports: “I still believe that when I’m playing at my best I’m a world-class player.
“I know that I haven’t done that to my capability over the last six or seven Test matches, and hopefully this is the start of me going forward again.”
Joe Root said Bell had the class to score runs. “I think every player is playing for his place at all times,” Root said. “Obviously some guys are scoring more consistently than others, but Ian’s record is fantastic.”
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