Australia coach Darren Lehmann keeps England guessing over likely batting order for first Ashes Test..
Malcolm Conn in Nottingham, England News Limited Network July 06, 2013 7:00PM
AUSTRALIA is deliberately refusing to release its side ahead of the first Test at Trent Bridge to keep England guessing.
"I think thats a real advantage for us," new coach Darren Lehmann said.
The only guide has been Lehmann claiming that Shane Watson and Chris Rogers would open the batting but captain Michael Clarke even refused to confirm that.
Clarke may move up from number five, where he has been most successful, to number four, where he has impressed in both lead-up games, scoring 124 from just 98 balls against Worcester.
"Weve spoken about five and four but where he bats, that's his decision," Lehmann said.
Clarke made it clear he was happy to move around the order for team balance.
"I don't think I've ever said I'd prefer to be at five," said Clarke. "I've batted four my whole career in first-class cricket, batted five for Australia the past couple of years and had a bit of success there, but I've said for a long time I'll bat wherever suits the team, and this series will be no different."
The batting order is in a state of flux, with the only player who appears to be out of contention Usman Khawaja after he was overlooked for the most recent tour match against Worcester.
David Warner is being talked up by Clarke and Lehmann despite missing a month of cricket through suspension and it appears the volatile left hander is likely to bat at number six to move him away from the new ball.
Steve Smith, who was brought into the Ashes squad as a reserve a fortnight ago, is also now in the frame after batting well in the drawn tour match against Worcester, which ended on Saturday morning (AEST).
The most likely batting order is for Ed Cowan to be at number three, where he made a half-century in the first innings against Worcester, Clarke at four, Phil Hughes at five and Warner at six.
However Lehmann made it clear that Cowan has certainly not nailed down his position.
He got some runs in this game. You'd love him to make hundreds and put his position beyond doubt," said Lehmann.
"He's made some runs and well just have to sit down and work out whether hes in that top six or not."
The better option would appear to be Hughes at three with Smith and Warner at five and six.
Hughes struggled badly against the ball turning away from him in India and he is more likely to be exposed to clever England off-spinner Graeme Swann early if he bats at five.
Smith is a good player of spin who had a good tour of India and Swann has a lesser record against right handers.
Lehmann admitted the way Australia played in India was poor.
"We didn't play their spinners very well in India full stop so we've done a lot of work on that," Lehmann said.
"Were not hiding from that. We've got to learn from that experience. That's a thing I wanted to bring to the table. We want to play a certain way against that type of bowling."
Lehmann also made it clear that more Australian players had to make centuries more often.
"Thats a big thing for us," Lehmann said. "I dont think we've made enough hundreds for a long period of time as a batting unit.
"There have only been a couple in the last few Test series and Michael (Clarke) has made most of them."
Likely team: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke (c), Phil Hughes, Dave Warner, Brad Haddin, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.
My team: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, Dave Warner, Brad Haddin, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.
