Clarke predicts early finish to Test

The fifth Ashes Test won’t go the distance if Michael Clarke’s assessment of The Oval pitch is accurate.

The last two Tests of the series have failed to reach stumps on the third day, and Clarke, who will play his 115th and final Test for Australia starting Thursday, says The Oval playing surface will produce a similar result.

"I haven't gone and looked at the pitch yet but the stumps are in the wicket so it's obviously not going to change too much.

"It still looks pretty green from the boundary, so I'd imagine it will look even greener up close.

"I think it's going to be another really tough Test match for the batters.

"But we just have to find a way to fight our backsides off, whether it goes two days or three days I'd just like us to be on the right side of that two or three days.”

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Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann concurs with Clarke’s assessment of the pitch, saying he “finds it interesting” the English curators get directed by the England and Wales Cricket Board on what type of wicket to produce.

READ: Clarke discusses Haddin's future

The English approach is in direct contrast to how pitches are prepared in Australia where each venue is left unmonitored to create a wicket for international cricket. 

“The curators just make their own special wicket and that’s the way it’s been,” Lehmann told 5AA.

“I’m really comfortable with our curators; you trust them, you know what they’re going to do.

“They tell you what’s happening, what the wicket is going to be like and away you go and play.

“It’s a little bit different in Australia. I like that.

“If that’s the way they (ECB) want to go …. I think every team does it at home and we’re one of the ones that don’t and I’m actually quite proud of that.”

Both the Edgbaston and Trent Bridge Tests were in danger of finishing inside two days after Australia were bundled out on day one in each match on a lively surfaces in overcast conditions.

Clarke’s men failed to counter the seaming, swinging Dukes ball on the first morning as James Anderson and Stuart Broad ripped apart the tourists’ line-up with career-best Ashes figures.

Anderson missed the fourth Test in Nottingham with a side strain injury he picked up in Australia’s second innings in Birmingham, and has not recovered in time to return for the Ashes finale.

“Unfortunately Jimmy’s not going to make it,” said England captain Alastair Cook.

“He’s gutted about it, he’s made real good progress from where he was at Edgbaston but it’s probably a week or so too early.

“He bowled in the nets yesterday but at about 60 to 70 per cent but that’s not how you enter a game.

“So he’s gutted he’s worked really hard with the fitness and medical team but as I said it’s about a week too early.”

Cook says Anderson would not have played even if the series was alive, and is confident the remaining pace options in the squad can provide adequate cover for England’s leading Test wicket-taker.

“As much as the amount of hard work that he’s put in he’s not right to go, so it’s a hard question to answer because you don’t know if it was 2-2,” he said.

“But the way that Mark Wood has come in and bowled, how well he’s bowled in the series and certainly in the first game and the last game.

“And we have options as well, especially with Liam Plunkett we have good strength and depth in our bowling.”