For the first time in his 121-match first-class career, Mitchell Marsh could open this week for Western Australia in a move that would be the clearest indication yet he could feature later on this Ashes series.
Meanwhile, eyes are on Usman Khawaja’s fitness as he attempts to hold his place as Australia’s opener — as new statistics reveal the analytical truth behind his comments on the Perth pitch in the first Test.
Catch up on the latest news heading into the second Test in Ashes Daily!
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GABBA PITCH SPOTTED THREE DAYS OUT… ALONG WITH UZZIE
We know. It’s three days out.
But it’s still looking pretty green.
The pitch for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba has been sighted after media was permitted into the venue for Australian training.
The Gabba pitch three days out.Source: Supplied
Usman Khawaja was seen going through his paces as he attempts to prove his fitness.
He is viewed as a “slight favourite”, per Code Sports, to hold his place as opener if he’s passed fit.
And the signs are promising so far, with The Age reporting Khawaja gave team physio Nick Jones a thumbs up after a 25-minute series of shuttle runs, sidesteps and squats.
The opener then moved into the nets taking throwdowns from assistant coach Michael Di Venuto.
DATA ON PERTH’S TEST PITCH CONFLICTS WITH KHAWAJA ‘PIECE OF S***’ COMMENTS
New data relating to the pitch used in the first Ashes Test has shown that the Perth Stadium pitch was the most consistent of any produced by the venue at the top level in red-ball cricket.
CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny revealed on Monday via Cricviz that the pitch used on the opening day of the Ashes measured at just 2.9 out of 10 on an inconsistency scale — the lowest of any wicket on day one at the venue since the venue’s maiden Test back in December of 2018.
For context, the higher the score out of 10, the less consistent the bounce is deemed to be.
The pitch, however, was found to be on the bouncier side, deemed by Cricviz to measure a score of 8.5/10, with Cherny noting the figure as the third-highest from six Tests at the stadium.
The data comes just days after veteran Usman Khawaja labelled the venue’s deck “a piece of s***” at a fundraising event last Friday, as he now looks to prove his fitness ahead of Thursday’s second Test at the Gabba.
“Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit. That’s a great wicket, that seems real fair,” Khawaja added at the luncheon.
“The same thing happened last year in the India Test. It’s just that day-one wicket, the ball just does not react.
“Steve Smith’s by far the best cricketer I’ve ever played with and he’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way. He does not miss the middle of his bat, (yet) he’s getting hit in the elbow.
“You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest. Sideways is little bit easier, but up and down, your hands can’t catch up. They do get better. Day two, day three and then day four, they start to crack up and cure again.”
Courtesy of ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle, the Perth deck was rated as “very good”, despite the 32 wickets that fell inside two days’ play.
Cricket Australia is yet to decide whether they will hand down a penalty to Khawaja for his comments.
Speculation remains around Aus opener | 02:45
‘IF THAT’S WHAT’S NEEDED’: HEAD HAPPY TO TAKE TOP ORDER REINS ONCE MORE
As Australian selectors ponder how they’ll line up this Thursday in the second Ashes Test, makeshift opener from Perth in Travis Head has again reiterated he is open to batting wherever he is best seen fit.
The South Australian superstar blasted the equal-sixth-fastest hundred in Test history on Day 2 of the series opener, reaching the milestone in a whirlwind 69 balls after replacing Usman Khawaja at the top of the order at late notice.
His opportunity came as a result of Khawaja’s back spasms, which saw him unintentionally bat in the middle order during the first innings also, as a result of a mishap off the ground while fielding.
“We haven’t really had many conversations over the last week … if that’s what’s needed to win a Test match, I’m fine with it,” Head told reporters in Brisbane.
“I agree with Pat (Cummins) that they’re (batting orders) slightly overrated. The traditionalists would say: ‘This is how it has got to be,’ but that is where the game is going to … You could use this order and these players in a range of different ways to win games of cricket.
“I’m a player I feel like can play any role. I am open to it and it’s just trying to work out in the game and in moments when that may come out.
“I feel all options are on the table and have been for a long period of time about where this team can potentially get better.”
Head had previously opened for Australia in red-ball cricket on the sub-continent with moderate success, however now looks poised to remain in the position should Khawaja be ruled out of the second Test.
Bethell fails to push Ashes hopes | 00:55
‘WHERE DOES HE FIT?’: UNANSWERED MARSH QUESTION THAT COULD HAVE ASHES IMPLICATIONS
Western Australian state coach Adam Voges has confirmed the inclusion of star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh into his Sheffield Shield side this Thursday against Victoria, but stopped short of revealing where he may bat.
The 34-year-old’s return to red-ball cricket at state level ends a 13-month absence for WA in the format, as speculation builds that Marsh could surge back into Australia’s Test squad for the back half of their Ashes series against England.
As the Aussies ponder their own selection headaches ahead of Thursday’s second Test in Brisbane, where the 46-Test player bats for his state may be an indicator as to where national selectors would want to pick him for any international cameo this summer.
“An ongoing discussion from our side of things is, where does he fit into our team? He fits in, it’s just a matter of where,” Voges told journalists at Perth Airport on Sunday.
“We’ll continue to work through that over the next couple of days. We’ve got some ideas … (Sam) Whiteman and (Cameron) Bancroft has been a solid opening combination for us for a long period of time, so whether we want to break that up or not, we’ll just work through (that).
“I know there’s been a lot of talk around Mitch and (his) potential involvement in the Ashes, but I think we’re just really pleased to have him in WA colours this week for the One-Day Cup and then the Shield game afterwards as well. I’d love to see him score a hundred for WA this week and really push that case.”
“Let’s see how this week goes and hopefully we’re talking a little bit more about him at the end of this trip.”
Bancroft, who himself has played 10 Tests for Australia, has quietly worked his way up this season’s Sheffield Shield runscoring leaderboard, sitting fifth with two fifties and a hundred from his 383 runs.
It would see Whiteman more likely to shuffle down the order, or even be dropped should Marsh open, however the 33-year-old has been an ultra-consistent performer for the state for many years now.
If Marsh were to be elevated up to the top of the order, it would be the clearest sign yet that national selectors see him as a potential opening option, should Usman Khawaja fail to hold down his position in the role beyond Brisbane. Such a move would allow Travis Head to return to number five in the batting order.
Marsh has registered three hundreds while opening across his illustrious white-ball career, a role he has adopted since 2023. He has never opening at first-class level in 121 matches across a 16-year period.
He will first feature for WA on Tuesday in their 50-over match against Victoria, before lining up in the red-ball format on Thursday at the MCG.
Wood out of second Test with knee injury | 01:51
CONCERNING UZZIE SIGHT AMID OPENER REPORT
Usman Khawaja made an appearance at Australia’s first training session ahead of the Gabba Test but left early.
The Age reports the opener, who left the first Test injured, did not bat and then departed.
It’s a less-than-ideal sight given Khawaja is battling for his career after struggling in the first innings against England in Perth, then failing to bat in the second innings, due to back spasms.
“I had anti-inflammatories, real strong ones, was on really strong painkillers … and I got myself to a place where I could actually field again,” Khawaja said.
“Before I went on, the physio said, ‘You’re feeling good now but the slightest movement can make it three times, four times, 10 times worse, you should know that’s a risk’.
“I was like, ‘I either do that or I don’t open for my country’.”
He then re-injured his back while jumping for a ball.
“As I landed, I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m gone here’,” Khawaja said.
“I had to call (Australian wicketkeeper Alex) Carey over and I was like, ‘I can’t stand up’.
“I walked off the field, and I was pretty devastated.”
Despite the concerns Code Sports reports Khawaja is a “slight favourite” to hold his spot as opener if he’s passed fit for Friday.
Travis Head, who scored a magnificent century as a makeshift opener in Perth, wasn’t willing to go as far as saying he wants the job on Sunday. But he agreed with his captain Pat Cummins that defined batting orders are overrated.
“I’m happy if that is what’s needed to win a Test match. If that is what’s required I’m fine with it,” Head said.
“With batting orders and Test cricket I am a player who can play any role. I am open to it.”
He continued: “I agree with Pat. I think you could use this order and these players in a range of different ways. I agree with Pat that they are slightly overrated but the traditionalists will say that is how it has got to be.
“That’s where the game is going. and when do you use that.’’
Steve Smith is seen with black tape under his eyes during an Australia nets session at The Gabba.Source: Getty Images
SMITH’S NFL TACTIC TO SOLVE PINK-BALL WOES
Australian acting captain Steve Smith looks set to borrow from American sport for the second Test as he looks to overcome an issue spotting the pink ball.
Smith, who now lives in New York, was spotted donning strips of eye black during the hosts’ first training session heading into the Gabba day-night contest.
He batted with the eye black on in the nets having previously explained before a 2024 pink-ball Test he struggles to see the pink ball during daylight.
“It is always a challenge batting under lights when the ball is new, it is always difficult,” Smith said.
“I find with the pink ball batting at night is probably easier to see the ball … in the day I find it more difficult to see.”
While the TV show Mythbusters is not exactly a peer-reviewed report, one episode found eye black doesn’t reduce glare but does help athletes tell the difference between light and dark, particularly important for tracking objects when it’s bright.