Steve Harmison's hopes of an Ashes recall for next week's third Test may have receded after the Warwickshire groundsman described the Edgbaston surface as "a bit like a jelly".
If Steve Rouse's pessimism proves well-founded the surface looks bound to be slow and low, lacking the bounce and pace that would make the Durham fast bowler's return particularly tempting.
"It's a nightmare," Rouse said. "In the last 10 days we have had two actual dry days and the Test wicket now is a bit like a jelly. I've got to try to dry that out between now and next Wednesday because the wicket had to be ready roughly a day before. The chances of getting that solid, three or four inches down – I've got no chance. Not with the weather systems coming in."
The outlook for the surface could prove heartening for Australia, if, as looks increasingly likely, Brett Lee is still unable to return to the Test team. The tourists might not feel unduly weakened by the bowler's absence on a lifeless track.
The 32-year-old fast bowler, who has not played any cricket since picking up a rib injury playing against Worcestershire earlier this month, is doubtful for Edgbaston after he was ruled out of the tourists' match with Northamptonshire, which starts tomorrow.
Mike Hussey, who captains the Australians in place of the rested Ricky Ponting, confirmed Lee's absence, saying: "Brett Lee is still not right."
It means the way is cleared for Stuart Clark – who joins Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson, Australia's three quick bowlers from the opening two Tests in the 12 for Northamptonshire – to stake a claim to play at Edgbaston, a ground where his ability to swing forces him into the selection reckoning.
When Australia last visited Edgbaston in 2005, a tornado swept across Birmingham just before the match and this, coupled with three inches of rainfall, left Rouse to complain that he was four days behind schedule.
England, remarkably, made 407 on the first day, an outcome that nobody had predicted, and eventually scraped home by two runs on the final morning.
Ponting may not be too concerned by the "jelly", as he rarely takes a serious look at a Test pitch until the morning of the match. "They change so much in the last 48 hours it's just not worth it," he argues.
