Australia: Team preview

Australia

David Warner

Where he’s at: Only the threat of rain cost him a second century of the Commonwealth Bank Ashes series in Adelaide, where he made batting on a wearing pitch appear more straightforward than anyone in the match. His positive intent and willingness to take the fight to England’s bowlers is a key reason for the power shift in the current campaign.

The road ahead: Heads to Perth with confidence aplenty and fond memories of the breathtaking hundred he blasted there against India a little under two years ago. It is only hubris that looms as his stumbling block, having thrown away his wicket in Brisbane and Adelaide to soft catches on the off side as he tried to manufacture shots that weren’t there.

Chris Rogers

Where he’s at: Went into the Adelaide Test under pressure after low scores in the series opener and responded with a measured, timely half century when batting was at its most difficult on a cold first morning in Adelaide. Cost himself a century with an unnecessary stroke and went cheaply in Australia’s second innings but provides an ideal foil to Warner’s aggression at the top of the order.

The road ahead: As a former Western Australian, he will be a key element of Australia’s batting plans given his intimate knowledge of how to tackle fast bowlers at the WACA. England will fancy their chances of snaring him in the slips once again but the fast bowler-friendly conditions means he’s likely to gain some respite from his Ashes nemesis, off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Shane Watson

Where he’s at: The Adelaide Test was a thumbnail sketch of Watson’s Test career – he looked to be set to blossom having reached 50 in Australia’s first innings only to manufacture a way of gifting his wicket. Then fell without scoring in the second but showed enough on day one to suggest he is finally finding some red ball form.

The road ahead: Is likely to enjoy Perth given the pace at which ball comes on to bat, value for shots on the fast outfield and the fact extra bounce reduces his perennial lbw risk. England’s key will be getting him in early while the ball is still swinging in the knowledge he plays compulsively at balls on or about off stump.

Michael Clarke

Where he’s at: His productivity and leadership since day one in Brisbane are significant reasons why Australia enters the third Test with history beckoning. Not only has he provided much-needed backbone to a middle-order that often errs on the side of flaky, he has taken the attack to England so adroitly that he is now inflicting the sort of mental damage the tourists believed they held over him prior to the series starting.

The road ahead: Can expect plenty of short stuff with the England bowlers feeling he has not completely overcome his problems against balls aimed at his upper body. Perth is the venue at which his batting record as captain is leanest and with the Ashes up for grabs he will be hell-bent on making his presence felt.

Steven Smith

Where he’s at: Continues to be a pub talking point having failed to compile a meaningful score even though he has twice played valuable hands when top-order wickets have fallen in quick succession. While his bowling remains something of a lottery, he was worth his place in Adelaide solely on the strength of again capturing Ian Bell’s wicket to help pave a road to victory.

The road ahead: Needs a score to put his place in the XI beyond doubt for the remainder of the summer and into South Africa, and England will play on this to exploit the vulnerability he shows when new at the crease. If Nathan Lyon is left out, he can expect to bowl a few overs into the breeze to provide respite for the quicks in Perth’s searing heat.

George Bailey

Where he’s at: Finally looked to have found his feet at Test level with a maiden half century in Adelaide, but then lost his wicket soon after to raise an eyebrow or two among the doubters. His role as a middle-order counter-puncher against England’s spinners has proved especially effective in blunting the influence of Graeme Swann.

The road ahead: While Australia is winning, Bailey appears safely ensconced given the fighting character and on-field leadership he brings to the team. England will target his minimal footwork if the ball is moving and rely on the fact that their spinners are expected to play a minimal role to nullify Bailey’s aggressive straight hitting.

Brad Haddin

Where he’s at: In the form of his career with both bat and gloves and is clearly revelling in every minute of his second incarnation as a Test player. Benefited from some undeniable good fortune in Adelaide but was savvy enough to make the most of the moment and his century was pivotal in Australia’s dominance and in mortally wounding England’s morale.

The road ahead: Thrives on the ball coming on to the bat, and given his current form will back himself to take the attack to, and the initiative from, England’s bowlers. Can also be expected to lead the verbal charge from behind the stumps as his combative nature fits snugly with the way coach Darren Lehmann wants his team to play.

Mitchell Johnson

Where he’s at: Quite simply, the difference between the teams. By far the fastest, most destructive component of two accomplished bowling attacks, his 17 wickets in two Tests have exposed enormous technical and mental shortcomings throughout England’s batting order. At the peak of his powers.

The road ahead: Returning to his favourite Australian venue with back-to-back player of the match honours to his name, Johnson’s biggest rival will be the weight of expectation he now carries. Never one to relish being the front man in the bowling troop, he now seems prepared to play up to his sniper’s image, which suggests not only improved confidence, but growing maturity.

Peter Siddle

Where he’s at: His value to Australia’s bowling plans was evident in England’s second innings in Adelaide when conditions dictated that Johnson would not be able to perform the same demolition job he had undertaken in the first. He picked up crucial wickets with his nagging line and length, and his running battle with Kevin Pietersen – who he has dismissed more times than any other Test bowler – is one of the series’ most intriguing sub-plots.

The road ahead: Prior to the Adelaide Test, he was cited as the bowler expected to carry the heaviest workload simply because his back-of-a-length bowling was deemed most expendable for the prevailing Perth conditions. But he is likely to  feature prominently at the WACA given England will likely target him to score from, and attempts to force strokes off that length invariably provide slips cordon fodder in Perth.

Ryan Harris

Where he’s at: Quietly went about his craft while Johnson was creating headlines and mayhem at the other end. His ability to contain while at the same time produce wicket-taking deliveries is the reason why the Australian brains trust rate him so highly, and his reliability allows Johnson to unleash hell without concerns about the left-armer’s potential for profligacy.

The road ahead: Concerns about his battle-scarred knee and his capacity to back up for the Perth Test dominated discussions on match eve and vindicated the decision to place Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile on standby. But with the Ashes beckoning, there will be huge temptation to throw Harris into the fray in the knowledge that a win in Perth could see him put on ice for subsequent Tests.

Nathan Lyon

Where he’s at: Was steady in Adelaide without ever threatening, and his lack of penetration on the final day invariably provided a talking point despite Australia’s emphatic win. Appeared to struggle with his length but occasionally generated good shape and significant turn which underscores his continuing development.

The road ahead: Was thought unlikely to figure in Perth until the forecast revealed it could be nightmare conditions for fast bowlers toiling in extreme heat. His last-day failure against South Africa a year ago might count against him but the prospect of having someone capable of toiling endlessly into the wind amid desert conditions could counter-balance that argument.

Doug Bollinger (possible 12th man)

Where he’s at: Looked to have surrendered his hold on a baggy green during England’s previous Australian Ashes sojourn when he ran out of steam during a marathon bowling stint at the Adelaide Oval. The fact that he refused to throw in the towel and focus on the bounty offered by the shorter forms of the game speaks volume for his character, while his inclusion in the Australia squad for the Perth Test highlights the regard for his bowling acumen.

The road ahead: With the cruel injury suffered by James Faulkner on Test eve, Bollinger’s status as the next-most potent left-arm seamer sees him suddenly in the frame for a recall. He has always bowled well at the WACA, and the pace and bounce that he can generate and his previous Test experience means he could be the ready-made replacement needed should the selectors opt to overlook the spin option.