This is perhaps proving to be trickier than the Australian captain expected. Not only two of his key men injured, two more are on the sidelines at Lord’s.
Ponting is having a case of dearth of fit bowlers at the moment. The manner in which things panned out at Lord’s on the first day was indicative of Australia’s struggles. Peter Siddle is apparently suffering from illness and Nathan Hauritz dislocated his finger when fielding against a straight batted shot from Andrew Strauss. Ben Hilfenhaus was the only man that Ponting could call fit enough to compete with Mitchell Johnson having a difficult time in the two Test thus far.
But Australia’s original spearhead could come back to duty for the third Test if all goes according to plan. Brett Lee believes he is slowly but surely getting there and although there is still a long process, he believes that the start of the third Test at Edgbaston on the 30th of July should see him fit to spar in the Ashes.
Shane Watson meanwhile is also improving on this thigh strain and could come into contention for the all rounder’s spot. Now all that Australia have to do is hold onto the Test at Lord’s.
Ashes T 2 Day 2 Lunch and Tea: Rain Halts After Team Trade Wickets
Ashes T 2 Day 1 Stumps: Aus Pick Wickets, Strauss Extends Himself
Ashes T 2 Day 1 Lunch & Tea: Strauss & England on Top, Australia Wayward
Ashes at Lord’s: Warne Resumes his Battle with Bopara
Flintoff Makes Retirement Announcement, Tests Out
Atherton: England Should not Grieve over Andrew “Second Hand Car” Flintoff
Ponting Cries Foul; Umpire Disagrees; Duncan Slams
Boycott Digs into KP, Calls him “Spoilt Child”
Flintoff, Monty in Trouble, Harmison and Onions vie for Spot, Aussies Unsympathetic
Ashes T1 day 5: England Complete a Houdini, Draw with Australia
Mitchell’s Mother Moans CA’s Disregard for Parents
Vaughan retirement:
Michael Vaughan Set to Retire?
