England hope for some Edgbaston magic

Ten years ago next week Michael Kasprowicz’s glove, Geraint Jones’ dive and Billy Bowden’s finger combined in Birmingham to create one of the most memorable finishes in Ashes history. If the 2005 Ashes was the Himalaya of modern Test series, the Edgbaston Test was its Everest, the site of its highest drama. Michael Clarke and Ian Bell are the only two players remaining who took part in that Test; now they will return to Edgbaston with their teams locked at 1-1 in the 2015 Ashes. The stage is set. What will this year bring?

England’s victory in Cardiff was followed by a punishing defeat at Lord’s, and it is the task of Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss to ensure that Australia do not carry significant momentum from that result. England’s form in their most recent six Tests – win, loss, win, loss, win, loss – might hint at bouncebackability, but it should be noted that the first two losses each marked the end of a series, so the wins that followed were against new opponents.

The selectors have responded by cutting Gary Ballance and recalling Jonny Bairstow, who last played Test cricket during the Ashes tour of Australia in 2013-14. It remains to be seen whether that is the only change. Australia have confirmed that Peter Nevill will be retained ahead of Brad Haddin, who withdrew from the Lord’s Test for family reasons. It is a move that may well spell the end of Haddin’s Test career.

The other key factor at Edgbaston will be the pitch, after the first two Tests were played on surfaces lacking in pace and bounce. Two days before the Test there was so much grass on the Edgbaston pitch that Clarke compared it to the Gabba green-tops used in Sheffield Shield cricket, but the likelihood is that cover will be shaved off before play. Whatever the case, the toss may again prove crucial: England won the toss and the match in Cardiff, and Australia won the toss and the match at Lord’s.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)

England LWLWL

Australia WLWWD

In the spotlight

The No.3 position could hardly be filled by two men with more differing form-lines. England’s axing of Ballance has meant a move back up to first drop for Ian Bell, who made 1 and 11 at Lord’s and in the past year has scored 336 Test runs at 22.40. For Australia, the spot is occupied by Steven Smith, who at Lord’s posted 215 and 58 and in the past year has amassed 1565 Test runs at 97.81. Adam Lyth has been struggling as opener and Bell faces the very real prospect of confronting Australia’s fast men early with the new ball. He has more than 7000 Test runs to his name, but he will need to draw on every bit of that experience to lift himself out of his current form slump. Smith, on the other hand, needs only 74 more runs to reach 3000 in Tests, and if he gets there in this match he will be third-fastest Australian to the milestone, behind Don Bradman and Neil Harvey. Not bad for a bloke who started his Test career at No.8.

Team news

England’s un-Ballanced side needed some rearranging, so Bell will move up to No. 3, with Joe Root at No. 4 and Bairstow to slot in at No. 5. It remains to be seen whether changes will be made to the attack. Mark Wood had little impact at Lord’s and will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday morning as England continue to monitor his troublesome left ankle. Steven Finn and Adil Rashid are the other options in the 13-man squad.

England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson

Nevill has retained his spot after a strong debut, and Chris Rogers appears set to play despite suffering a dizzy spell at Lord’s. That might mean an unchanged XI, and Australia will hope not to add to their recent history of last-minute changes in Edgbaston Tests. Glenn McGrath rolled his ankle on the first morning in 2005 and was replaced by Kasprowicz, and in 2009 Graham Manou made an unexpected debut when Haddin broke a finger just before the toss.

Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon

Pitch and conditions

The Edgbaston groundstaff have used cannabis lamps to help prepare the pitch, in the hope of supplying greater pace and bounce. Only time will tell if they have succeeded or made a hash of it. Despite rain interrupting practice on Tuesday, the forecast for the match is fine.

Stats and trivia

Only 11 players have the Test double of 2000 runs and 300 wickets, but Stuart Broad and Mitchell Johnson may both join the club this Test. Broad has 296 wickets and 2353 runs; Johnson has 299 wickets and 1999 runs

Nevill becomes just the fifth man in the past 27 years to be Australia’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper, after Ian Healy, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin and Matthew Wade

Last time Bell batted at No.3 in a Test was at the SCG in 2013-14. The circumstances were similar: the incumbent Joe Root had been dropped but his replacement – Ballance, on debut – was slotted in at No.5

Quotes

“It was a tough four days, especially after Cardiff, to put in a performance like that but the beauty of the time away and of playing at home is you get to slide off for a few days, get away from the bubble of the Ashes.”

Alastair Cook on the loss at Lord’s

“The way we were able to take 20 wickets at Lord’s – and that was as flat as you’re going to get – I don’t think too much adjustment will be needed.”

Michael Clarke on his attack’s prowess