Pattinson omission explained, as Aussies mull replacement

The mistakes of the past and an eye on the future are the key reasons why paceman James Pattinson has been left out of Australia's team for the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

Pattinson was available for selection after making a successful comeback to international cricket in the first Test at Edgbaston but has been rested for the clash at Lord's, with one of Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc set to replace the Victorian and partner Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon in the bowling attack.

The right-armer has endured a stop-start career since his debut in 2011 due to recurring back injuries that left him on the brink of walking away from the game altogether.

But having learned from rushing him back early from injury in the past, which has often been followed by an extended stint on the sidelines, Australia's brain's trust has decided to take it slow, steady and safe.

"I think what we've done in the past with James is got him back, we know how good he is so we keep using him and keep bowling him and eventually he's broken again," Australia captain Tim Paine said at Lord's on Tuesday.

"We're really lucky in the fact we've got two bowlers (Starc and Hazlewood) in particular on the sidelines that are world class and we want to make sure James is absolutely cherry ripe every time he plays.

"He's available for selection but we've decided to rest him for this game and make sure that his long-term future is in really good shape."

Along with Pattinson's injury history, the short three-day turnaround between the second and third Tests played a part in the decision to rest the seamer.

It means Pattinson is set to return to the starting XI for the third Test in Leeds, which is close to the coastal town of Grimsby where his father John and older brother Darren were born before moving to Melbourne.

"It was always going to be one way or the other - (Pattinson) would miss this Test and be fresher for the third Test or he has this one after the long break and doesn't play in the third," Paine explained.

"If you look at Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood's records at Lord's it's a good venue for one of those to play and be confident in the fact they can bowl really well here."

England captain Joe Root, who is set to reveal his side's final XI at the toss, said he was expecting Australia to change their fast bowling attack during the series and has prepared for any attack the tourists might throw at him.

"When they (Australia) bring a squad of bowlers like they have you look at it over the course of a five-match series," Root said on match eve in London.

"They are going to chop and change things over, try to find different formulas for different surfaces and conditions.

"I'm not surprised they've gone with those two (Starc and Hazlewood) added to the squad for Lord's.

"Each side has their own way to set up throughout a whole series and we've prepared.

"We've made sure we got our practice in against a left-arm angle and are very prepared for Hazlewood as well."

Now all that's left for Paine and the selectors is to pick between Hazlewood and Starc for the last fast-bowling spot.

With heavy rain forecast for day one on Wednesday, a decision on Pattinson's replacement might be determined by the skies above as much as the pitch underfoot.

While both quicks were disappointed not to play at Edgbaston, Paine says the way the pair took the news and have behaved around the squad has been a shining example for the rest of the touring party.

"They're both world-class bowlers and when you leave guys like that out, particularly two at a time, you can see what sort of people they are," Paine said.

"We've been really impressed with both of them. We've had Josh Hazlewood on the A tour the whole time priming himself to play in the first Test and when he missed he out they were obviously both disappointed.

"They're both excellent team men and it's always nice from a captaincy and leadership point of view when you've got two senior players - and they are world-class - left out, they cop it on the chin and run drinks and train their backsides off in lunch hours and tea breaks it sets a really good example for the rest of our team.

"We’re absolutely wrapped with the way they've gone about it and whichever one of those two we unleash tomorrow they're certainly ready to go."

While Pattinson and Starc are viewed as express pacemen, and Hazlewood and Siddle more line-and-length, control bowlers, Paine says any combination could play.

"We can certainly play Josh and Peter together tomorrow," Paine said. "We haven't decided that yet.

"Mitch is seen more as a strike weapon but he's been working really hard on his control. There's not set combinations.

"We'll just come in the morning, have a look (at conditions) and go with a bit of a gut feel.

"We're not always going to get it right, but you try and make the best possible decision that you can when you have a look at the conditions that you're faced with."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval