Many people wrote this Australian team off after being completely outplayed in the first Test, but the second Test showed how much of a difference a couple of changes in personnel can make.
Both Mitchell Marsh and Peter Nevill played a huge role in Australia’s comeback.
With some big wickets and handy runs, Marsh played the all-rounder role to perfection. I’m a massive Marsh fan and I could go on forever about him, but I would like to discuss Nevill.
Nevill will keep his spot in the third Test despite Brad Haddin being available for selection, but this shouldn’t even have been up for debate.
Haddin remains a fantastic cricketer and is one of the leaders in the Australian dressing room, but it would have been very harsh to drop Nevill after his impressive debut.
Lord’s can be a difficult venue to play at, but making your Test debut in an Ashes series where your team are 1-0 down, the pressure would have been immense. Yet with millions of eyes on him, Nevill looked right at home from the moment he stepped out to bat, and a solid knock of 45 showed the man’s class.
Those who follow the Sheffield Shield would know Nevill offers stability and balance down the order. He has been a major figure for New South Wales over the years and continues to show improvement as each year goes on.
It’s akin to watching New Zealand’s top-order batsman Kane Williamson, they are very similar in technique and how they apply themselves at the crease.
Moving onto Nevill’s wicketkeeping, Lord’s is one of the toughest grounds to stand behind the stumps due to the wobbling ball, and many have a nightmare of a time simply because the conditions and the ground are so foreign to them. Yet Nevill didn’t show any signs of discomfort, and that was most impressive.
Taking a catch second ball of England’s first innings, and going on to take seven catches for the game, sums up how good a Test he had.
Heading into the third Test at Edgbaston, the Australian selectors made the right call sticking with the man who was flawless with the gloves and added real confidence down the order.
Brad Haddin has been fantastic for Australian cricket and he’s the type of player that you always want to do well, but cricket teams, like any sport, should always be picked on form and you can’t argue a case for Haddin to be selected after Nevill played a large part in Australia’s 405-run win.
You need to reward those who deliver and Peter Nevill will show the cricketing world why he deserved to keep his spot at Edgbaston.
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