Australia's back-up wicketkeeper knows he may not play a Test on this tour but is preparing like every Test is his first
Standby Nevill itching for rare taste of action
Peter Nevill will spend the next two months preparing to play every Ashes Test, but knowing he almost certainly won't feature at all.
Such is the life of Australia's reserve wicketkeeper.
Nevill has been learning plenty from Brad Haddin since the NSW pair flew out to the West Indies in May.
But the 29-year-old is keen to point out that the marathon Qantas Tour of the British Isles is no tutorial.
"I can always learn a lot from Hadds, but this tour I've got to prepare to play," Nevill said in Chelmsford, where he will face Essex in the four-day clash that starts tonight (8pm AEST)
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"Should something happen to Brad and he gets injured, I'll be playing, so I need to be on top of my game and ready to go should that opportunity arise."
Haddin performed the role in 2005, when he was Adam Gilchrist's understudy and sat on the sidelines throughout the thrilling series.
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Gilly and Haddin on the 2005 Ashes tour // Getty Images
Haddin also knows first-hand it is no perfunctory position, having been a last-minute scratching at Edgbaston when he was injured during the warm-up for the third Test in the 2009 Ashes.
On top of Haddin's expertise, Nevill suggested he would be picking the brain of on-duty selector Rod Marsh.
"I'm sure he's going to have plenty of feedback for me," Nevill said of Marsh.
"He had a wonderful career as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Australia, so he's definitely a great resource.
"I'll be making sure I sidle up to him and have a good chat about those things."
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Nevill behind the stumps on the Isle of Wight // IoW Cricket
Haddin was rested from Australia's tour game against Essex, having played against Kent last week, with Nevill to take the gloves this week.
It's been a long wait since the end of the Sheffield Shield season, when Nevill won the Steve Waugh Medal as the NSW Blues' best player.
"Apart from the little (academy) game in the Isle of Wight, I haven't played cricket since the end of the season," he said.
"It's very exciting."
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