Pat Cummins has admitted David Warner is no guarantee to be selected for the fourth Ashes Test, conceding that Mitch Marsh will be incredibly hard to leave out at Old Trafford.
Warner’s spot at the top of Australia’s order is again under the microscope, after he was dismissed twice by Stuart Broad in seven balls in Australia’s three-wicket loss at Headingley on Sunday.
Already planning to retire in January, Warner has made plenty of starts in the past month but is yet to make the kind of big score that would secure his spot long term.
The other factor in Warner’s selection is the squeeze on Marsh ,with Cameron Green expected to be fit to return for the next Test on July 19 after missing Headingley with a hamstring strain.
Playing in his first Test in almost four years in place of Green, Marsh scored 118 in a crucial day-one knock and was then reliable with the ball.
Green edged closer to full fitness on Sunday, bowling for close to 20 minutes in the morning before acting as a substitute fielder in the first session and having another light bowl at lunch.
It means Australia’s selectors must make the tough call to pick between Marsh and Green for the next Test, unless one was moved to the top of the order and Warner was displaced.
Asked if it was possible Marsh could be retained for Old Trafford in place of Warner, Cummins said it was not out of the question.
“You keep all options open,” Cummins said. “We’ve got nine or 10 days now, so we’ll take a deep breath. We’ll go away for a few days.
“But everyone comes back into it. Greeny should be fit for Manchester. Josh (Hazlewood) will be back in there as well.
Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing David Warner. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“So we should have a full roster and we’ll have a look at the wicket and have a chat and work out the best XI.”
Then asked if it was even possible to leave Marsh out at Manchester after his performances in Leeds, Cummins indicated it would be incredibly difficult.
“Yeah, it’s possible but, I mean, it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?” Cummins said.
Warner’s scores of four and one at Headingley took his series average to 23.5, while he has now been dismissed by Broad 17 times in Test cricket.
The other selection decision for Australia will be what to do with their fast-bowling attack, with Cummins still keen to play all six Tests and Mitchell Starc a lock after a fourth-innings 5-78.
Scott Boland could therefore find himself under pressure after going wicketless at Headingley, with a fresh Hazlewood ready to return.
Australia maintain Todd Murphy can still play a big role in trying to retain the Ashes, after the offspinner was limited to just two overs in England’s fourth innings at Headingley.
Playing his first Test as Australia’s sole tweaker, Murphy went virtually unbowled on Sunday by Cummins as the hosts chased down 251 in precisely 50 overs.
The 22-year-old was handed the ball for the final over before lunch on day four, before gaining one other single over when England needed 30 for victory. The lack of use of Murphy came with Australia playing their first Test without chief spinner Nathan Lyon in almost 10 years, after a calf tear ruled the veteran out of the series.
“It was mainly just conditions-based,” Cummins said. “Didn’t quite spin as much as we thought it would. And probably didn’t bowl as many overs as we thought we would as well.
“We bowled under 60 both innings. I would have liked to get Toddy into the game a bit more. But I’m sure (the fourth Test in) Manchester will be a bit more spin-friendly.”
Murphy took 1-36 in 7.3 overs in the first innings, getting the wicket of Ben Stokes after being hit for three sixes on the extremely short straight boundary.
Cummins also defended the decision to have up to seven men on the boundary at times with less than 50 runs to win in the fourth innings.
England were six wickets down at the time and their tail on the brink of being exposed.
“I’ll have another look at it and see if there’s anything we might do differently,” Cummins said.
“I still felt like with the ball, there was a little bit in there.
“So we were happy to give away a single but still felt like we left our catchers in, the two or three slips where you felt like you were going to take your wickets anyway.
“Overall, I thought we handled it not bad. You might look at a few different ways to go about it, but I felt like we made some decent decisions out there.”
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
oh definitely to be honest if we weren't such defenders of the spirit of cricket we could really stack the order, bat to 11, make 700 in 250 overs between the rain, take the urn. Khawaja Harris Renshaw Labuschagne Smith Head Green Marsh Carey Starc Cummins
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It may be overkill - and if there is any sign of spin Murphy should play over either Neser or Hazelwood - but I like the way the batting lineup is structured.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
If they aren’t going to bowl Murphy, there isno point to him any they should just count on part-timers instead. Perfectly valid call, if they don’t feel he’s there yet and maybe hope for a chance to play him if the 5th is a dead rubber. Was a bit surprised Boland couldn’t get any movement in the air. That was far the more dangerous movement on that track, and may well be again on the next. Need a mix, so if Hazlewood or Neser can get a bit of movement in the air at a respectable pace they should probably get the nod. But all the bowlers, at least those that got much of a bowl, need to have a long hard look at how they bowled to the tail-enders and anyone intent on having a dash. Bouncers work if there are close in fielders, the batsman is susceptible, and it is a surprise. Not when they are the stock delivery. And if batsmen are having a crack, there is always a lot of premeditation, so mix it up and make lots of subtle changes to pace, width and length. Even roll the fingers across the seam now and again. Bowling the same slog me rubbish hoping to buy a wicket isn’t a plan, it is the absence of a plan. With a draw being sufficient, might be worth the batsmen having a think about whether they really need to playat a lot of that short and/or wide rubbish too. The English need to bowl to a result, not Australia, so make them bowl to your plan rather than bat to theirs. Left field thought, if the goal was cards close to the chest/misinformation time…swap the batting positions for Head and Warner just before they walk out to bat, see if it shakes something loose?
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
just checked that scorecard. we bowled Hilf Siddle Johnson Clark Watson North Katich and Clarke that test. looks brilliant on paper. they slaughtered us. with 2 bowlers. broad and swann. i can't see how given Cummins so many options helps him. you sense he would just love a nice 4 pronged attack, of you know who....
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
it's got Ponting 2009 and Hauritz written all over it or Murphy as the right handed Agar we can see if Pat doubts you he doubtles down on the doubt. for a guy on debut in england is doubly disturbing
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
6 seamers seems sick?
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
just remember this, it's 9 days till the next game. if he's dropped now, Broad gets to focus on plans for whoever replaces him. keep the cards close to the chest i reckon
Ray
Roar Rookie
March gets to ball to move away from right hand batsmen and should have bowled a lot more. Cummins captaincy and use of 100% short stuff looked inept, why can't they mix it up a little. If he didn't trust Murphy, then at least try one of the part time spinners.
langparker
Roar Rookie
Makes no sense but the teammates code will keep Warner in the side, already hearing the excuses like not weakening the slips catching strength. If Cummins doesn’t have confidence in Murphy, leave him out & pick Neser. I reckon they go Marnus & Uzzie to open & Green at 3 with approval to attack like he used to with WA, then the same order as Headingley except Hazelwood for Boland. I reckon marnus needs a bit of a prod to get his head down and not throw his innings away & opening to retain the ashes would be a big ego boost.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Ideally Murphy would play as a fourth specialist bowler, and do what Lyon does. Unfortunately Aus doesn't seem to have confidence in him, and/or Eng's innings don't last long enough to make him an asset. So the question is whether three specialist pacemen (say Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood), two all-rounders (Marsh, Green) and some part-time spinners will be able to do the job at Old Trafford, especially with rain forecast for each of the next 10 days at least. That will certainly bolster the batting depth (pushing Carey down to 8 followed by Starc and Cummins), as well as the fielding should Warner be retained as well. It will also ease the workload on the three very-tired pacemen, who may well play again at The Oval four days later. I wouldn't be surprised if at this point, Aus will settle for a rain-affected draw at Old Trafford, so as to go to The Oval with the Ashes already retained, just as happened in 2019.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Three bowlers though.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yes!!! ‘But if Warner is to be dropped, then make sure he’s on as a substitute fielder (and at first slip) as much as possible !’
Ouch
Roar Rookie
I'd have it slightly different. Boland and Warner out but keep Murphy unless it is very apparent a spinner wont be required. Also think Green should open. I'd go: Khawaja Green Marnus Smith Head Marsh Carey Neser Starc Cummins Murphy/Hazelwood
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
History has shown that injured players have always come back again when fit, shown as recently as India when Warner was 'injured'. Green should come back in, he has age on his side as well. As for Warner, he should go. It is a toss up as who should replace him, but they can hardly do worse. I'd go Renshaw.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
Marsh only bowled 6 overs too, ScoBo was having little impact. Marsh could have bowled a lot more overs.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I’d go with Neser, Hazelwood and Green in for Warner, Boland and Murphy: Khawaja Marnus Smith Head Green Marsh Carey Neser Starc Cummins Hazelwood Strengthens the batting, Head can do the spin bowling.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Pat is undoubtedly the best bowler that we have I think but once he spent himself in the first innings his pace dropped away in the second. 130km bouncers are not that hard for international players even the tail. This happened in Sydney then India. So he needs to treat himself as a strike bowler not a trundler unless he is on a role. It doesn't help when the 3rd pacer is bowling 130 km pies when the whole attack is under the screw. The continued deep fields bowling short with easy singles to the tail seems over the top defensively. It limits the forms of dismissal and shows as poor bowling craft imo. As they aged the big 3 of our bowlers have slowed down, Starky no longer cracks the 150, And Hoff and Pat are no longer bowling mid 140s. It would have been good to take an express quick if injury permitted. Just for the experience. If they replace Davey I wouldn't mind seeing lnglis come in at 3 and the Marn to open. Murphy should get another go as he seems to be the long term future and dropping him is not backing him. We need to bat better for longer and find a way to go through England's long and strong tail if we are going to win another test.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Why keep Murphy, if he's not going to get a bowl ? Noting also that Manchester's 10-day forecast is for rain every single day. So might they go with this eleven ? 1. Khawaja 2. Warner 3. Labuschagne 4. Smith 5. Head 6. Marsh 7. Green (replacing Murphy) 8. Carey 9. Starc 10. Cummins 11. Hazlewood (replacing Boland) Deepens the batting, and a fifth seamer better manages the workload of Cummins and Starc. But if Warner is to be dropped, then make sure he's on as a substitute fielder (and at first slip) as much as possible !