Clarke confident Nevill will fill Haddin’s gloves

Cook’s side carry a 1-0 lead into the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday, after last week’s 169-run victory. “Australia are still probably favorites, they’ve only got to retain, I suppose”.

Haddin will not be in Australia’s plans for Lord’s having pulled out for family reasons but captain Michael Clarke insisted he will stay in London and will play some part in the remainder of the series.

Cook played down the possibility that England has become the favorite and Australia was the underdogs after Cardiff, pointing out that Australia swept the last series in Australia 18 months ago.

The tourists responded well to defeat in Cardiff, racking up 337-1 on day one as Chris Rogers and Steve Smith both reached stumps on unbeaten hundreds.

“But when you have young guys stepping up to the plate – Mark Wood, Joe Root – saying: ‘We’re not scared of Australian players, ‘ the game is changing”.

“We tried to create pressure in certain other ways”. It is about our attitude and approach. “He gets his opportunity, I’ve got no doubt he will be ready to go”.

Alastair Cook has told England they must stay true to themselves in the Lord’s Test, because that is their best chance of beating Australia again.

But the captain backed his side to emulate the Class of 1997, who came from behind to win the Ashes.

While losing Haddin is a big blow according to Clarke, the Australian captain expressed his faith in the 29-year-old Nevill who has had a terrific first-class season. “I have every confidence he will walk out there and make runs”.

The team also got some good news, with indications that Starc, who picked up seven wickets in Cardiff, would be fit for the second Test despite suffering an ankle injury in the previous game.

Clarke said: “He took eight wickets”.

Peter Nevill, also Haddin’s New South Wales deputy, is now set for an global debut on Thursday.

“I’m sure he’s gong to have plenty of feedback for me”, Nevill said.

The 34-year-old added: “We were outplayed in all facets in the first Test. We have taken the positives and we come here to Lord’s and start afresh”. There is commonly a gap of two to three years between Ashes series, with the two countries alternating as hosts.

Pitch conditions: Light brown pitch should provide a good surface to bat on but cloudy skies above Lord’s could help England’s pace bowlers.

“We’re going to have to think a lit tle bit on our feet out there because no-one has seen a huge amount of him, but obviously Trevor might have a bit of information on him”, opening batsman Cook said. “We always put ourself in that position but whatever the eleven the selectors go with, I’m really confident in this squad that we can find a way to win this test match”.

“He’s pretty good”, said Cook. “As always the next challenge starts tomorrow at Lord’s, which is a great place to play cricket”.

Rogers finished 159 not out, already his highest test score. It is a similar picture across the five days. He was out that way twice in Cardiff, and for the 29th time in tests.