Keeper runs mandatory: Lehmann

Darren Lehmann has declared Australia "want the best gloveman" for the Test side, but ability to add runs to the middle order is mandatory.

Incumbent Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is under enormous pressure to hold his spot, with the position for the Magellan Ashes basically coming down to a bat-off between the candidates over the first three rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield.

Wade is facing a potent Western Australia attack at the WACA in his first match with Tasmania which began on Thursday, a day-night round of Shield cricket an extra level of difficulty for the colour-blind 29-year-old in his bid to retain the spot.

The other two leading contenders – NSW Blues gloveman Peter Nevill, and West End Redbacks rising star Alex Carey, to meet at the Adelaide Oval from Friday.

It sets up a fascinating battle to draw first blood in what has become the most highly anticipated start to a Shield season of modern times, and Lehmann will be watching on from the sidelines in Adelaide this week.

Asked what trait the selectors valued more, Lehmann was unequivocal: "We always want the best gloveman," he told Adelaide radio station FiveAA.

"Wadey's certainly improved his glovework, he just hasn't made any runs for us.

"You'd love to have someone that averages over 30 at the moment. Our six and seven has really struggled in the past three or four years.

"That's an area we know we need to improve on. Glovework is paramount still, as it normally always is, and then we want runs."

Wade has a career Test average of 28.58 from 22 matches, but in the past year since his recall at the expense of Nevill, he has scored 263 runs at 20.23 in 10 Tests.

Nevill, who made his debut at Lord's in the 2015 Ashes series, scored 468 runs at 22.28 in 17 Tests before he was one of the casualties of the horror defeat to South Africa in Hobart.

Ever since, the wicketkeeper position has polarised supporters and pundits.

Former keeper Ian Healy has campaigned for Nevill to return, as has ex-Test quick Mitchell Johnson and former opener Michael Slater.

In Wade's corner is legendary Australia captain Allan Border, who would retain the Tasmanian.

Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh – two of Australian cricket's most respected voices – agreed that Nevill had been hard done by to be axed from the Australia team in the first place.

But both said, as ex-players, they hoped selectors would show faith with the incumbent and backed Wade to hold his spot. Although Gilly – the man who changed expectations for wicketkeepers forever with his audacious strokeplay and excellent glovework – did add "as a fan, wanting Australia to win the Ashes I think Nevill should be back in".

The calls for Carey to leap to the front of the queue have been less vociferous from the ex-pundits, but if Lehmann's edict that ability with the gloves is paramount it leaves the 26-year-old well placed.

He last season set a new Sheffield Shield record for the most dismissals in a single season with 59 – a testament not only to the ability of his bowling unit, but also his own accuracy and tidiness behind the stumps.

And Australia's selectors gave him a huge vote of confidence when he was named Australia A wicketkeeper for the tour of South Africa that fell victim to the imbroglio over players' pay.

A recent fan poll on cricket.com.au that attracted more than 20,000 votes saw 40 per cent calling for Nevill to keep wicket in the Ashes, ahead of Carey and Wade while Tim Paine, the national T20 gloveman, also attracted strong support.

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Lehmann, who skipped Australia's limited overs series in India to take in the JLT Cup, said he had been impressed by all the contenders in the domestic one-day competition.

"I've been very impressed by him (Carey), Nevill and Wade in JLT Cup. And (Cameron) Bancroft from WA did a good job too, so there's a lot of guys there that have stood up in the one-day format," Lehmann said.

"It's obviously a different format coming up now, four-day cricket, so a chance to bat longer, bat big, and make some big runs as well.

"It's a case of who puts their hand up under pressure. These three Shield rounds are highly pressurised with spots up for grabs.

"If someone performs really well in these three games, it's going to go a good long way to making the Test 12."

Lehmann confirmed Australia's first Test squad of 12 would be named on November 17 after the third round of Shield cricket.

"Hopefully we have a really good idea after the first two rounds, but we'll wait and see after the third round to make the final call."

Wicketkeeper contenders

Matthew Wade

Age 29 State Tasmania

Tests: 22 | Runs: 886 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 4 | Ave: 28.58| HS: 106 | Catch: 63 | Stump: 11

First-class: 110 | Runs: 5186 | 100s: 9 | 50s: 32 | Ave: 37.57 | HS: 152 | Catch: 364 | Stump: 21

Peter Nevill

Age 32 State NSW

Tests: 17 | Runs: 468 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3 | Ave: 22.28 | HS: 66 | Catch: 61 | Stump: 2

First-class: 86 | Runs: 4264 | 100s: 9 | 50s: 21 | Ave: 40.22 | HS: 235* | Catch: 264 | Stump: 15

Alex Carey

Age 26 State South Australia

First-class: 18| Runs: 794| 100s: 0 | 50s: 6 | Ave: 25.61 | HS: 79 | Catch: 75 | Stump: 2

Sheffield Shield fielding, from 2011-12

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2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21