Australia’s miserable Ashes Tour has continued with the news that pace bowler James Pattinson will miss the rest of the series with a back injury. Here are some of the options to replace him for the third Test at Old Trafford, which starts on August 1.
Mitchell Starc Was dropped for the second Test at Lord's, though that was perceived by some in the Australian media as a decision designed to give him a rest after bowling 49 overs in the first Test. Took five wickets in that match and is most likely to play in Manchester.
Jackson Bird The right-arm bowler has not featured in the Test team since January, when he made the second of his two appearances against Sri Lanka. Will likely get some action in the tour match against Sussex, which starts tomorrow.
James Faulkner Shane Warne, Australia's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, is a big advocate of Faulkner, who has yet to make his Test debut, but the all-rounder has made appearances for his country in both one-day and Twenty20 cricket.
Nathan Lyon Old Trafford usually offers up some help to spin bowlers so Darren Lehmann could add a second spinner in the form of Lyon, who was dropped at the start of the series for Ashton Agar despite having 76 wickets to his name.
Elsewhere Australia have the option to call someone up from outside the squad. The fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are both on tour with Australia A at present, and they took four and three wickets, respectively, in their side's win over a Zimbabwe Select XI this week.
