Ashes 2015: Australia coach Darren Lehmann faces selection issues
Monday 20 July 2015 14:07, UK
Australia may have dominated the second Ashes Test but coach Darren Lehmann still has some selection quandaries as he prepares for round three.
The Aussies start a three-day tour match at Derby on Thursday, giving Lehmann options to ponder, whether to rest some players or give others more match time ahead of the third Test on Wednesday next week at Edgbaston.
Will Chris Rogers be alright after his dizzy spell forced him to retire from batting on Sunday? Will Brad Haddin return after pulling out last week for personal reasons? Or does Peter Nevill deserve to keep the wicketkeeper's place anyway?
One person Lehmann may ask to sit out the tour match but bring back for the third Ashes Test is Mitchell Johnson, who took his Test career tally to 299 wickets after another six during Australia's 405-run demolition of England at Lord's.
"He was brilliant, bowled fast," Lehmann said of the left-arm pace bowler.
"He's had some difficult times in England in the past, but he's a different Mitchell Johnson you see playing for Australia now."
It is expected to be a more straightforward call to retain all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who returned at the expense of Shane Watson with handy wickets and runs.
Haddin missed Lord's for personal reasons but was able to undertake wicketkeeping drills during the match. Lehmann needs to check if the veteran feels ready to return and was expecting a medical update on Monday on Rogers.
The opener hit 173 in Australia's mammoth first innings 566 for eight declared at Lord's and was within one run of a ninth half-century in 10 Test innings when he suffered a dizzy spell on the fourth morning and had to retire ill.
"It's always tough to have those decisions to make, one forced and one unforced," Lehmann said of the changes that were made at Lord's.
"We were really pleased with both performances, from Mitchell and Peter.
"I thought they did a really good job for us and injected some enthusiasm in the group, played really well and did their job."
Rogers had to miss two Tests in the Caribbean last month, after suffering concussion in net practice, and was hit on the helmet too by a short ball from Jimmy Anderson on the second morning at Lord's.
It was confirmed, though, that his latest problem was unconnected to those incidents - and there was optimism that he would be fit to face Derbyshire.
"He's all right," said Lehmann. "We'll just have to wait and see what the medical staff come up with."
The solution as to who keeps wicket in the next Test is likely to come later.
Lehmann said: "Selection's always difficult, so Rodney [Marsh] and I will have to sit down and work out which way we go.
"We have to get Brad back playing cricket before we cross that bridge.
"It's just trying to work out what happens moving forward, and we hope he'll be available for the Derby game."