Australia debutant Nevill impresses Cook

LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook has said he does not expect Australia to be significantly weaker for giving wicket-keeper Peter Nevill a debut in the second Test at Lord’s starting from Thursday (today).
Nevill has been given a chance after first-choice gloveman Brad Haddin withdrew for “family reasons” on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Nevill, Haddin’s deputy at New South Wales, scored 764 first-class runs at an average of 76.40 during the last Australian season, including an unbeaten 235 against Tasmania in Hobart.
He also completed 34 dismissals in the Sheffield Shield.
Now, having been picked by a selection panel headed up by Australia wicket-keeping great Rodney Marsh, Nevill gets a chance to make an international debut at Lord’s — where back in 1972, with Marsh behind the stumps, Australia paceman Bob Massie took 16 wickets in a sensational maiden Test match.
Cook, caught behind by Nevill for 83 in a tour fixture in Sydney during England’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in 2013/14, said: “His first-class record is pretty decent, he’s averaging 45 and got a double-hundred.
“So we expect it to be no different in terms of the quality.
“He’s obviously been talked about as being his (Haddin’s) replacement for a couple of years,” added Cook, whose side are 1-0 up in the five-match Ashes series following their 169-run win in Cardiff.
Cook added England would look to utilise the inside knowledge of new coach Trevor Bayliss, previously in charge of New South Wales.
“We’re going to have to think a little bit on our feet out there because no-one has seen a huge amount of him, but obviously Trevor might have a bit of information on him,” Cook said.
Australia’s Peter Siddle who played alongside Nevill at Victoria before, with Matthew Wade blocking his way, the gloveman joined New South Wales in 2008, said he expected his former state team-mate to perform well at Test level.