The Ashes: Glenn Mcgrath a Doubt for Second Test

Glenn McGrath is facing a battle to prove his fitness for the second Test after failing to completely recover from his troublesome left heel injury.

Australia's experienced seamer, who claimed six for 50 in the first innings at Brisbane to help secure a 277-run win, has been struggling with a blister problem.

He was given a pain-killing injection to get him through the previous Test and was expected to take a full part in practice today at the Adelaide Oval. But instead of bowling his usual quota in the nets, McGrath was restricted in his output and faces a late fitness test tomorrow morning before Australia name their line-up.

"We're obviously not going to be able to go into a Test match with him unless he's 100% and we can rely on him to get right through the game at his best," stressed captain Ricky Ponting today. "Glenn has got to be 100% going into the game. With our team balanced the way it is, we can't afford to be carrying any of our bowlers whatsoever.

"Glenn has to be able to give me what I require during the course of the game, and if he can't a few more questions will be asked. It will be hard to keep him out, but he'll know within himself if he's right."

Losing McGrath would be a savage blow to Australia's hopes of forcing home their advantage and claiming another comprehensive triumph over the next five days.

England will look on McGrath's struggles as an omen to repeat their success of 14 months ago, when he played a major role in Australia winning the first Test of the series. But after suffering a freak injury treading on the ball in the warm-up to the next Test at Edgbaston, England fought back to win by two runs and go on to reclaim the Ashes.

Ponting would rather not dwell on the possibility of that happening again, but is bracing himself for an England backlash after their defeat at the Gabba.

"You have to expect they're going to play better than they did in the first Test match and I think they're very capable of doing that," he conceded. "We just have to look after ourselves and prepare ourselves for what we know England are capable of.

"It's been a short turnaround so I'm sure they've had a bit on their plate the last couple of days picking guys up and getting guys ready for this Test match. It's up to us to make sure we repeat what we did in Brisbane. I thought the cricket we played up there was of a very high calibre and it's important we start this Test match up exactly the same."

Should McGrath fail to recover, Australia will choose between fast bowler Shaun Tait on his home ground or uncapped left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson.