Michael Clarke has faith in Ashes debutant Peter Nevill
Wednesday 15 July 2015 15:17, UK
Australia captain Michael Clarke has every faith wicketkeeper Peter Nevill will make a strong impression on his debut at Lord's on Thursday when he replaces Brad Haddin for the second Investec Ashes Test.
Haddin has been left out for personal reasons with Nevill, 29, coming in after featuring in one match on tour.
The 37-year-old Haddin had a poor first Test in Cardiff, dropping centurion Joe Root on nought and failing twice with the bat as England won by 169 runs inside four days.
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But Clarke is confident Nevill will acquit himself well at Lord's as Ashes-holders Australia look to level the five-match series.
"That's the reason you pick a second wicketkeeper," Clarke said on Wednesday
"I'm really confident we're bringing someone in who is in good form. I think Nev will handle it really well. He batted beautifully (against Essex) in the tour game."
Nevill scored 764 first-class runs at an average of 76.40 during the last Australian season, including an unbeaten 235 against Tasmania in Hobart and completed 34 dismissals in the domestic Sheffield Shield.
Clarke said Haddin, who has played 66 Tests, still has a role to play in the series but should be given the privacy he needs.
"He's doing as well as he can do," Clarke said. "I think this time right now it's very important that we respect the privacy of the Haddin family and give him the chance to be with his family.
"I'm really confident we'll see more of Brad Haddin throughout this series ... just right now he needs his time."
Clarke said fast bowler Mitchell Starc is "going really well" and should be fully fit to start at Lord's after an ankle injury, but refuted suggestions that under-fire all-rounder Shane Watson had been dropped in favour of Mitchell Marsh.
"I don't know the 11 so I don't know how anybody else does at this stage," he said.
Watson scored 30 and 19 and went wicketless in Cardiff where he was out lbw, his major weakness, in both innings.
Clarke said Australia, favourites to retain the Ashes at the start of the series, had to "turn it around right now".
"You've got to cop a few smacks in the mouth. In Cardiff, round one, we got beaten. Round two? I'm not so sure," he said.
"Through your career it's a rollercoaster ride, in life number one and then in cricket. If you want to be the best, if you want to play at the highest level, you've got to deal with that.
"I've got a sense we need to turn things around right now in this Test match.
"Looking at our preparation in England and looking at the boys' attitude in training there's no reason we can't do that in this Test match.
"If you have got the right attitude you will turn things around."
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