2nd Ashes Test: Watson faces axe, Haddin withdraws

London, July 15: Australia, reeling from the late withdrawal of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, are reportedly set to drop Shane Watson for the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Thursday as they bid to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Watson was twice out lbw cheaply in all-too familiar fashion as England, against many pre-series predictions, won the first Test in Cardiff by the crushing margin of 169 runs with more than a day to spare last week.

With his medium-paced bowling barely used by captain Michael Clarke at Sophia Gardens, Australia's Fairfax Media reported Wednesday that the 34-year-old Watson would be dropped at Lord's and replaced by fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, 11 years his junior.

Watson's lbw double in Cardiff means he has now passed fifty in just two of his past 16 innings. "My gut feeling is they'll probably go with Mitchell Marsh," former Australia captain Steve Waugh told Sky Sports before the Fairfax report, subsequently cited by Cricket Australia's own website, was published.

"A guy at that age... when he's played a long time, when you make a decision like this now -- it's pretty much final. There's probably no way back from being dropped now." Marsh, the son of former Australia opener Geoff Marsh, has played in four Tests and impressed in the team's opening two tour matches by scoring hundreds against both Kent and Essex.

Cricket Australia told AFP Wednesday they would not comment on the Fairfax report, saying that the Test side would be announced as scheduled on Thursday morning at Lord's.

Haddin, 37, withdrew on Tuesday for what a team spokeswoman said were "family reasons", although he will remain with the squad in London. Peter Nevill, also Haddin's New South Wales deputy, is now set for an international debut on Thursday.

This is not the first time Haddin has put his family ahead of his cricket career. In 2012, Haddin took several months out of the game after his then 17-month-old daughter Mia was diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a rare form of cancer.

Meanwhile the 29-year-old Nevill faces the prospect of making his Test debut at Lord's, which can prove tough for wicket-keepers because of how the ball can deviate alarmingly after passing the bat.

AFP