Former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Travis Head remains best suited to batting at No. 5 in the day-night Test at the Gabba, despite his century as an opener in Perth. Both he and Michael Clarke are convinced that Nathan Lyon must play, as the home side weighs up the best team balance to face England following their demolition job.
Usman Khawaja's spot has come under scrutiny after Head’s century at the top of the order, a move prompted by Khawaja suffering further back spasms on the second
day. He had also been unable to take his usual place in the first innings, with England collapsing so quickly that he could not make up enough time on the field. However, Finch noted that the pink-ball factor in the second Test adds another layer to Australia’s selection decisions and argued that, in this case, having Head in the middle order remains the preferred option.
"If this wasn't a pink-ball test match coming up at the Gabba, I would tend to agree and say, you know what, maybe it is time to throw him [Head] up there and you just launch into it from day one of a Test," Finch said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"But I just feel as though the fact that it is a pink-ball Test, the impact that that brand new ball can have and the impact that Travis Head can have batting at No. 5 when the pink ball does go a bit soft and the game can sort of, the wicket can flatten out. I like him at five still, just to be that real explosive player through the middle order,” he added.
Khawaja batted at No. 4 on the first day in Perth but gloved a rising delivery from Brydon Carse. His form had already been a talking point ahead of the Ashes, with just one Test century in his previous 44 innings before the series. The Brisbane Test would be a home outing for Khawaja, where he is the leading run-scorer in day-night first-class matches at the Gabba. Clarke believes Australia will stick with their original plan for now and does not expect any major changes to the batting order.
"I think he plays. I think if he's fit, they will give him another chance. I think a few days and Uzzie will be sweet. He hasn't had this back problem that many times throughout his career, so I think he will be fit,” said Clarke.
Meanwhile, both Clarke and Finch agreed that Lyon should be a definite selection for Brisbane, despite bowling only two overs in Perth and having been left out of the day-night Test in Jamaica earlier this year.
"He's in for sure. He's in my XI every Test match. Unless it's an absolute raging green seamer. Like even Perth, the wicket certainly didn't look that bad. I'm still picking a spinner in my team,” said Clarke.
"The impact that Nathan Lyon has had on that side is huge. We saw him not selected for the Test in Jamaica…and they were in extreme conditions. So Australia decided that they probably weren't going to use a spinner at all. I can see from that point of view why it happened in Jamaica. At the Gabba, 100%, it should not ever be talked about, Nathan Lyon not being in an Australian XI,” said Finch.
The other key decision revolves around the fitness of Pat Cummins, who is pushing for a return to Brisbane. He bowled with the pink ball in Sydney on Tuesday and gave himself a fair chance of being ready for the Gabba.
"I think Australia will stick to the plan. If he's 100% fit, he plays. If he's 95% fit, he doesn't play. I think that's the way that they'll go. They've been really consistent with how they've picked squads, how they've picked the XI. And for me, it's a long series. You don't want to rush it,” said Finch.
