Australia have swung a selection surprise heading into the second Ashes Test, with captain Pat Cummins to miss again.
The hosts confirmed an unchanged 14-man squad for the Brisbane day-night Test, which begins at the Gabba next Friday, with Cummins expected to return from the back injuries which saw him sidelined for the first Test in Perth.
However, despite training strongly during the week, the 32-year old has been given another match to fully recover, with Steve Smith to take the reins once again.
“We’re bowling so we’ll see how we go … give us a week,” Cummins told media as he arrived at the SCG for a pink-ball bowling session with Smith on Friday morning.
Cummins now has nearly three weeks to prove his fitness for the third Test of the series, which begins in Adelaide on December 17.
Fellow star quick Josh Hazlewood also trained at the SCG on Friday, but it is uncertain whether he will play any role in the series after suffering a hamstring strain in the lead-up to the first Test.
The cautious call on Cummins looks set to ensure Australia field an unchanged bowling attack in Brisbane to the one which twice routed England at Optus Stadium, though Queenslander Michael Neser is a chance to come in for either Perth debutant Brendan Doggett or veteran spinner Nathan Lyon should conditions suit.
However, Australia’s line-up is far from locked in, with debate raging over whether Travis Head will maintain the opening role that saw him strike a Test-winning 69-ball century in Perth, which would likely see Usman Khawaja omitted.
Khawaja has kept his place in the squad as he recovers from back spasms that prevented him from opening in both innings in the first Test, but he will need to prove his fitness in Brisbane to hold his spot.
Back-up batter Josh Inglis and all-rounder Beau Webster are the ones vying to replace Khawaja in the XI should Head be retained as opener.
Australia squad for second Ashes Test
Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.