The Ashes 2019: Second day of action of intra-squad clash leaves selectors in a quandary
The batsmen failed, the bowlers dominated and the most unlikely of bolters made a near irresistible case for an Ashes return as Australia’s intra-squad clash left selectors scratching their heads.
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Lines went through the names of quite a few Ashes hopefuls with ball dominating the bat at Southampton and only David Warner making waves as he moved closer to his Test return.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh also emerged as a likely Ashes bolter, storming in to contention with a five-wicket haul just months after being banished from all teams and losing his Cricket Australia contract.
A first ball duck for Joe Burns in his second batting effort, and just one run in two innings for Kurtis Patterson were performances that likely put likely nails in their coffins ahead of Friday’s Test squad announcement.
Seamer Jackson Bird failed to fire too in the all-Aussie clash despite it being a wicket-fest in which even some of those batsmen most likely to be part of the Test line-up in Birmingham next week struggled on a dusty Rose Bowl deck.
Coach Justin Langer conceded there would be some “brutal” calls for selectors when it came to whittling the 24 performers in the match down to the likely 17 man squad, with the final number to be decided in a post-match selection meeting.
But some calls were made easier as 32 wickets fell inside two days, with just 430 runs scored.
What was hoped to be a hard-fought, four day battle, crucial preparation before next week’s first Test, will instead end early on the third day, with 121 runs, or nine wickets, to decide the result.
Vice-captain Travis Head could manage just one run in his two efforts, and would-be opener Marcus Harris 21 as Pat Cummins and James Pattinson ran amok with the Dukes ball.
Amid the carnage Warner managed not just crucial time at the crease as he prepares for his return to the Test arena, but his 98-ball score of 58 was the highest in the game so far, and the lone half-century among 31 individual innings.
“It was great more for mentality to go out there and switch from white ball to red ball and you couldn’t have asked for more exciting conditions,” Warner said.
“You are not expecting a wicket to go up, down, sideways and swing. You had five different elements to deal with and I thought it was a great hitout for myself personally and a lot of the other guys as well.
“It just puts it in the back you mind that it’s not going to be easy and you have to try and find a way to score.
“That’s the luxury about these sort of games, that you can prepare under the hardest conditions and you won’t get any practice better than this leading in to that first Test.”
His likely opening partner Harris, who made scores of six and 15, was outpointed by Cameron Bancroft was 25 not out in his second innings after making 17 first up.
Bancroft, who has support from Langer, is seemingly coming from a longer way back but could yet make the squad, bringing all three players banned after the sandpaper scandal in South Africa back in to the national fold.
But the batting woes were the result of some stunning bowling from Cummins in particular who completed a five wicket haul in the morning before returning late in the day to send Burns’ stumps flying.
Pattinson also reaped rewards in his second innings taking 3-19 among a series of near unplayable balls at searing pace through 10 overs, an effort which was rewarded with a long break off the field.
Mitchell Starc didn’t bowl in the afternoon after pulling up sore from his early work but was expected to help finish the match on day three.
Veteran seamer Peter Siddle also had his name pencilled in after taking five wickets, including Smith for just eight in his second innings.
Burns and Patterson loom as the hard luck stories after both made big hundreds against Sri Lanka in January.
After his 180 in Canberra in January, Burns suffered a fatigue disorder and only began batting again earlier this month, putting him behind the eight ball.
Patterson, still effectively not out in Test cricket after making an undefeated 114 against Sri Lanka, was already the likely first man out to make way for the returning Steve Smith and Warner.
He also managed just 99 runs in seven innings in England and didn’t pass 50 once.
Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Second day of action of intra-squad clash leaves selectors in a quandary