Kevin Pietersen looks set to win his battle to be fit for England’s attempt to secure a third consecutive Ashes series win – while David Warner will be recalled from disgrace to make his Ashes debut in Australia’s increasingly desperate efforts to keep this series alive.
For the second day running, Pietersen underwent a series of highly public tests on the left calf he strained in the second Test at Lord’s.
He had a lengthy bat in a sweaty indoor school, then emerged with England's physios for a couple of sprints on the wet outfield. He seemed to grimace after the last of them before returning to the dressing room, but within minutes Alastair Cook was declaring himself "pretty hopeful" that Pietersen will play.
Rehab
"Over the past week he has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes at rehab, which is not the most fun thing to do," the England captain said – although James Taylor has stayed with the squad as cover.
An hour or so later Michael Clarke spent much of his time discussing Warner – the tempestuous tweeter, occasional bar-room brawler and, briefly, a Delhi Daredevils team-mate of Pietersen’s in the Indian Premier League. The batsman has rejoined the senior squad this week after slamming 193 for their A team in Pretoria.
“I’m very confident he’s learned from the past,” said Clarke when asked whether a wiser Warner had returned from South Africa.
"Davey at the time [of the punch he swung at Joe Root in June] made it clear he was extremely apologetic for what occurred, and he knows what the expectations are as an Australian cricketer. He's trying to put that behind him and move forward, and I think he's doing a really good job at this stage."
Number six
Warner, who has played all of his 19 Tests as an opener, is expected to bat at number six, with Steve Smith moving up to number five after passing a fitness test on a back problem - unless Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, and his fellow selector, Rod Marsh, have any more surprises up their sleeves, such as their decision to hand Ashton Agar his international debut in the first Test at Trent Bridge.
Now Agar is regarded as being vulnerable, with the more experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon expected to make his first appearance of the series on a cracked and patchy pitch.
But Shane Warne came to Old Trafford on yesterday to join in Australia's final practice session with a view to working with Agar, who may yet play alongside Lyon – just as Cook insisted that reuniting Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann for the first time since Nagpur last December remains "an option" for England.
Guardian Service
