Australia have decided to stick with a winning team, picking an unchanged 12-man squad for the second Test in Adelaide.
It was thought conditions could prompt Australia to consider changes for the match starting on Thursday week, and coach Darren Lehmann has left the door open to add extra players if required.
The new drop-in wicket at Adelaide Oval has proven difficult for bowlers so far this Sheffield Shield season and of biggest concern to Australia will be managing their in-form pace attack through the five-Test series.
Overworking Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and in particular the injury-prone Ryan Harris is a danger for Australia given the tight turnaround between Adelaide and the third Test in Perth, and the fact their fast bowling depth is already stretched.
But Lehmann said for a side that has only just broken a nine-match winless streak, winning every match is important.
Playing defensively in Adelaide isn’t an option, although there’s still the possibility of calling on reinforcements.
“We said we would pick the best side possible as long as everyone is 100 per cent fit,” said Lehmann.
“So if Ryan is 100 per cent fit he’ll play.
“Every Test is important at the moment, obviously good result here but we’ll concentrate on Adelaide.
“You pick the side that’s going to win the Test match.
“The side is picked with the proviso that if we get to Adelaide and the conditions (dictate) we need to add a player to that 12 we will do that.”
James Faulkner was the 12th man in Brisbane and keeps his place in the squad as fast bowling cover, while debutant George Bailey will stay at No.6.
Injuries to James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and Josh Hazlewood leave Australia short on options should another seamer break down.
They can ill-afford to lose spearhead Harris, who was their leading wicket-taker during the last Ashes series in the UK earlier this year.
Harris played four consecutive Tests that series, after being left out of the first, and picked up a hamstring strain on the last day of the tour.
Harris destroyed England in Perth during the 2010-11 series, where he took nine wickets.
The other option for managing Harris and his fellow pacemen would be to provide captain Michael Clarke with an extra bowling option – if reinforcements were called upon.
England’s batsmen led by Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell have a well-proven record of being able to occupy the crease for long periods and Australia may think the more bowling manpower the better.
Selectors will rely on allrounder Shane Watson being able to bowl a considerable amount in Adelaide after he managed a few overs on day four in Brisbane in his comeback from a hamstring problem.
Under consideration if an extra is needed could be West Australian opener and part-time offspinner Marcus North.
The former Test batsman has scored three centuries in his past four Shield matches.
North has 14 Test wickets to his name, not to mention the fact that two of his five Test centuries have come against England.
Squad: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner.
