Toe issue puts Stanlake in doubt

Towering quick Billy Stanlake is in doubt for Australia's second ODI against England with a laceration on his big toe.

Stanlake suffered the cut while bowling in the first ODI at The Oval last week, and was restricted to spectating at the side's training session at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens ahead of tonight's second ODI.

Stanlake had just returned from a broken little finger suffered in the IPL, and his absence would be a blow for the Aussies looking to bounce back from a three-wicket defeat in the opening match after the towering Queensland quick had troubled England's batsmen with his raw pace.

England opener Jason Roy had his stumps rattled by the second ball of the innings, and Stanlake later returned to edge off Joe Root who had made fifty, finishing his 10-over spell with 2-44.

Image Id: 71DB034E58614DD8A62DAC328DE9F655 Image Caption: Stanlake discusses the injury with support staff // cricket.com.au

Australia have options to address the injury, and could go for a straight replacement with the deceptively quick Jhye Richardson to come into the XI.

Or they may opt to adjust their team balance and play with four bowlers and add an extra batter to a side that was bowled out for just 214 at The Oval and didn't post a total of more than 283 in two warm-up matches against county opposition.

D'Arcy Short would be in line for an ODI debut if Australia elect to tinker with the batting, and the opener's inclusion could mean a reshuffle of the line-up, with Travis Head a candidate to drop down into the middle order.

Aaron Finch impressed in a warm-up match with a solid half-century in the middle order that gave the innings impetus and a move down the order was considered by selectors.

But Finch's exceptional record against England and the fact he has played every one of his 89 ODIs as opener means he is likely to stay put.

National Selection Panel chairman Trevor Hohns is the selector on duty for this five-match series and was locked in conversation with Tim Paine as the four-hour training session drew towards a close.

Stanlake has had toe issues before, and a similar injury nearly lead to the amputation of the big toe on his left foot at the start of last summer.

Image Id: EC67C35D5E5A4C3E8ED7EF2C80D3415B Image Caption: A close-up of Stanlake's damaged toe pre-surgery // Supplied

"It just started off as an open wound on the top of my toe purely from bowling," Stanlake told cricket.com.au of his earlier injury.

"It gradually got worse and worse. I couldn't walk on it, it got pretty serious. I was in hospital for four days and needed surgery.

"I don't think I was that far off losing it. I think if (the infection) had gotten into the bone or the tendons, I might have been in some serious trouble."

Given that background it's understandable Stanlake was sidelined at training, watching on as Justin Langer put the team through another long session with a heavy focus on fitness and fielding.

Glenn Maxwell, who hit Australia's top score of 62 in The Oval defeat, said the first-up loss hadn't dampened team spirit in a squad made up largely of players from Australia's T20 tri-series win in February.

"Guys are having a lot of conversations and being very relaxed," Maxwell said.

"Guys have been very professional the whole time and that's one of our key areas – to be the No.1 team for professionalism and living those values.

"That's one area where we've bene outstanding last two weeks, ticking all the little boxes and making sure nothing creeps into our day-to-day that could become an issue with anyone.

"We're doing all the right things on and off the track."

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: First ODI, England beat Australia by three wickets

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final