Josh Inglis looks set to be the odd man out for the MCG Test after he again failed with the bat on day four of the third Test in Adelaide.
Inglis made just 10 after coming in with England’s tired bowling attack at Australia’s mercy at 5-311 after 74 overs in the hot sun.
Vice-captain Steve Smith re-emerged on Saturday morning in the nets after he was forced to sit out this match with a bout of vertigo and looks certain to play in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Inglis has made just 65 runs from his three trips to the crease in this series with the 30-year-old averaging just 21.66.
After chopping Josh Tongue onto his stumps in the first innings, he nicked the same bowler to England keeper Jamie Smith as the Aussies lost their last six wickets for 38 to be all out for 349, a lead of 434.
Former Australian batter Greg Blewett said Usman Khawaja, after making 82 and 40 in his Test recall, deserved to remain in the middle order ahead of Inglis.
“If Australia are looking to pick their very best team for the next Test match, Usman Khawaja has to stay after this Test match,” he said on Seven commentary.
“So I’d leave the openers as they are and you’ve got Marnus Labuschagne three, Smith at four, Khawaja five. I’ll leave Alex Carey six and demote Cameron Green to seven.”
Blewett said Smith “looks hungry to bat, as he always is” from the vision of him in the nets.
“That’s a really good sign leading into Melbourne. That he’s out there batting, and we’ll assume now that he’ll play the next Test match.”
Will Jacks breaks the crucial partnership, dismissing Khawaja as Australia lose their third wicket.
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Misfiring Jacks in legendary company
England spinner Will Jacks has copped plenty of criticism for his wayward bowling in Adelaide.
The off spinner was belted for 105 runs in the first innings as he claimed the wickets of Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey when they both tried to slog him out of the ground.
In the second dig, he was lucky to get Khawaja again when he nicked a long hop with Jacks finishing with 1-107 from 19 overs.
He is just the third player in Ashes cricket to concede 100 runs in each innings of a Test, joining legendary duo Ian Botham (1981) and Shane Warne (2005), who each racked up the unwanted milestone in England.
Jacks is likely to be dropped for the next Test in Melbourne with specialist Shoaib Bashir set to get his first run of the series.
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/x86YmUv 4 Talking Points: Inglis patience running out with Smith on track for comeback, Jacks join elite unwanted club
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