Michael Neser is the toast of the cricket world after a five-wicket haul in the second Ashes Test that vindicated the decision to drop Nathan Lyon. But with Lyon guaranteed to return for the third Test and Pat Cummins almost certain to play as well, Neser will likely be one of two players forced to make way.
Cummins was very close to playing in the second Test at the Gabba, and seems a certainty to make his return from a back issue in Adelaide on Wednesday week. Lyon wasn’t picked for the Gabba day-night Test, but chief selector George Bailey guaranteed his return for Adelaide.
Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser and Josh Inglis (all on right) could all make way for the third Ashes Test. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
It means two bowlers are set to be dropped, with Neser and Brendan Doggett most likely to make way. Doggett played in both Tests so far this series, mainly because of injuries to Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
He took 1-81 and 1-56 in Brisbane after being asked to bowl a lot of short-pitched deliveries, which isn’t really his usual tactic. As for Neser, he showed his prowess with the pink ball as he took six wickets in the match – including five in the second innings.
He was picked ahead of Lyon because he’s somewhat of a pink-ball specialist, and showed his skills on his home deck at the Gabba. But with a return to day-time cricket with a red ball in Adelaide, Neser will likely be surplus to requirements.
Brendan Doggett (L) and Michael Neser (R) will likely be replaced by Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. Image: Getty
It would be a cruel blow after his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests helped Australia win by eight wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the series. But with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland virtually undroppable, that’s the reality of Test cricket.
Unless anything dramatic happens before the second Test, Australia will likely roll with a bowling line-up of Cummins, Starc, Lyon and Boland in Adelaide. There’s a chance the Aussies could keep Neser as an extra bowler and put him or Cummins at No.7 in the batting order. But that would give them six bowlers and make their tail very long.
Will Usman Khawaja return for third Ashes Test?
With Neser and Doggett likely to make way, there’s also a chance that Josh Inglis could join them. Inglis batted at No.7 in the second Test after coming in for the injured Usman Khawaja, with Travis Head promoted to open the batting with Jake Weatherald.
Head made 33 and 22 in Brisbane, and selectors might be keen for him to return to the middle order if Khawaja overcomes his back issue. That would see Inglis miss out on playing in Adelaide.
“If they want to pick [Khawaja] for Adelaide, he has to open,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Sports on Sunday. “But do they say to Khawaja, ‘Thank you for your great career, but this is the way we are going?’ It is a tough call for selectors.”
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Brett Lee predicted Khawaja will play. “With Usman Khawaja, look, he’s been such a great asset to the Australian cricket team. (Yes), his age is there, but if he’s scoring runs and he’s fit, then you’d assume that he’d play in Adelaide,” Lee said.
“If he’s fully fit, which would mean that Travis Head would go back down the order, and then Pat Cummins comes in, you’d expect that Nathan Lyon would have to play. So that’s where my mind says what will happen, that Khawaja will come back in the top, Head will slide down to where he normally bats and then Cummins and Lyon will come in.”