Birmingham: Australia opener Chris Rogers came through a testing session yesterday in the nets at the hands of his own teammates and is set to play in the third Test against England at Edgbaston, starting tomorrow.
The five-Test series is tied 1-1 after England surprised many by winning the opener in Cardiff before Australia inflicted a massive 405-run defeat on the hosts at Lord’s with a double century from Steve Smith.
England responded calmly to that embarrassment, recalling in-form Jonny Bairstow at No. 5 after dropping his fellow Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance.
As for Rogers, he’s “good to go,” according to Mitchell Starc, one of several Australian pace bowlers operating at full speed in practice against the 37-year-old batsman.
Rogers retired hurt in the second innings at Lord’s and sat out the tour match against Derbyshire where his understudy Shaun Marsh made a century.
Rogers has been diagnosed with an inner ear balance problem, but cleared of concussion.
Starc did not hold back in the nets against Rogers.
“If everyone is bowling full tilt, and he gets through that, then he is ready to go – all reports are that he is,” Starc said, adding that he, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood were ready to resume the bombardment of England.
“I hope there is a bit of pace in this wicket and it is a bit harder than the other ones we have played on,” Starc said. “The short stuff will definitely be on the menu.”
One prominent target will be Ian Bell, whose scores in his last 12 innings include two ducks and five dismissals for a single. He is, however, a four-time Ashes winner with 22 Test centuries and a Test average of over 43.
Joe Root, who had a rare stumble at Lord’s with 1 and 17, is up to fourth from his accustomed No. 5 spot.
“It’s about making sure we do everything we can to build big partnerships and put them back under pressure,” Root said of England’s top order.
England seamer Mark Wood bowled at full pace in the nets and is expected to be fit.