Australia still face selection issues
AFP
AFP, LONDON: Australia may have thrashed England by 405 runs at Lords on Sunday to level the five-match Ashes series at 1-1, but they still have to make some selection decisions ahead of the third Test in Birmingham.
The sight of opener Chris Rogers, who made a Test-best 173 in Australias first innings at Lords, suffering a dizzy spell early on Sunday morning when batting second time around sparked fears the 37-year-old left-hander was suffering from delayed concussion after being hit on the helmet by James Anderson on Friday.
Rogers, who plans to retire after the Ashes, missed Australias recent Test series win in the Caribbean after being concussed while batting in the nets.
Australia also have a tricky dilemma to solve when it comes to the question of their wicket-keeper at Edgbaston, where the third Test begins on July 29.
Peter Nevill impressed on debut at Lords with seven catches and a breezy 45 in his only innings.
But he only got his chance behind the stumps after the experienced Brad Haddin, his mentor at New South Wales, withdrew because of unspecified family reasons.
Haddin is still with the tour party, however, and Australia could use their upcoming three-day tour match with Derbyshire starting on Thursday as a way of testing his readiness to return to the international arena.
Far more straightforward was the performance at Lords of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, called into the side after Shane Watson was dropped following Australias 169-run defeat in the first Test in Cardiff.
