AFP/Brisbane
Australia, already without injured skipper Michael Clarke, may also freshen up their pace attack with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for this week’s second Test in Brisbane, coach Darren Lehmann said yesterday. Clarke is out for the rest of the India Test series with a torn right hamstring suffered while fielding in Australia’s 48-run win over India on Saturday, amid fears his Test career could be over after a spate of injuries.
Shaun Marsh has been named to take Clarke’s place for Wednesday’s Test at the Gabba, with vice-captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin expected to become Australia’s 45th Test skipper. But with just three days between Tests, selectors must consider the pace attack for Brisbane, Lehmann said.
“We will see how they pull up,” he told reporters. “We will pick the best team to get 20 wickets. A couple of them are sore but the next day or two will tell. It’s a quick turnaround.”
Left-armer Starc has been placed on stand-by for Brisbane, while Hazlewood was the 12th man in Adelaide. Ryan Harris, making his Test return after major knee surgery, worked through a total of 40 overs in Adelaide and may need to sit out in Brisbane. “I literally don’t know. He’s just come back in the side,” Lehmann said of Harris. “If they are not 100 percent they won’t play.”
Peter Siddle may also be under scrutiny after taking just six wickets in his past four Tests. “He bowled tightly which is what we need from him,” Lehmann said. “Obviously getting some more wickets if possible. He knows that, but he is doing everything he can behind the scenes. He’s OK.”
Australia will again rely heavily on off-spinner Nathan Lyon to get through a large workload in Brisbane. Lyon captured a career-best 12 wickets in the match at the Adelaide Oval, triggering a final-session collapse to steer Australia to victory.
In the space of 18 overs, Lyon snared six wickets as India slumped from 242 for two to be all out for 315. Lyon finished with seven for 152 off 34.1 overs. “He did a really good job (in Brisbane) last year against England, got some key wickets,” Lehmann said. “He enjoys the bounce at the Gabba. He’s dispelled that (notion that Lyon couldn’t bowl teams out on day five)... I’m really pleased for him. It was an emotional day for him.”
Lehmann said the Adelaide victory was “probably the best one I’ve been involved in” given the rollercoaster nature of the Test and the way the players rallied following teammate Phillip Hughes’s funeral. Lehmann said that opening batsman Chris Rogers needed to score runs to hold on his spot in the side.
Rogers was dismissed for nine and 21 in Adelaide after a mediocre series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in October when he failed to pass 50. “He is a great foil for (fellow opener) David Warner. That’s what I do like, and we like that as a selection panel,” coach Lehmann said. “But like everyone, you’ve got to make some runs.”
