Australia have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, with Pat Cummins not yet deemed ready to return. The fast bowler, recovering from a lower-back stress injury, has been held back despite recent training with the pink ball. Josh Hazlewood remains absent with a hamstring injury, meaning Steve Smith will again captain the side.
The decision to play it safe with Cummins comes after Australia's eight-wicket win in Perth, which eased the pressure for his return. Had England not collapsed on the second afternoon, the need for Cummins to rush back would have been greater. As it stands, Australia can move within touching distance of retaining the urn with a second successive victory.
Usman Khawaja has raised eyebrows with his criticism of the Perth Stadium pitch, which was rated 'very good' by the ICC match referee. Khawaja, who was a passenger in the first Test due to back spasms, said: 'Day-one wicket is a piece of shit... 19 wickets on the first day, about 20 people got hit – that's a great wicket?' He also noted that Steve Smith, usually a reliable batsman, was missing the middle of his bat due to unpredictable bounce.
Khawaja's place in the side is under threat after Travis Head's match-sealing 69-ball century as a makeshift opener. There are growing calls for Head to be promoted permanently, which would open a middle-order berth for Josh Inglis or Beau Webster. Khawaja revealed he would have undergone an epidural to bat had Head not finished the match early.
Hazlewood was seen training in Sydney but from a reduced run-up and still short of full pace. The second Test, a day-night affair, begins in Brisbane on 4 December.
