CHRIS Rogers and Shaun Marsh will go head-to-head in a battle to partner David Warner at the top of the order in Australia’s first official match of the Qantas Tour of the British Isles.Australia yesterday named the XI who would play the first match today against English county side Kent at the Spitfire ground in picturesque Canterbury.
Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh will both play in the middle order with both all-rounders pushing their claims for a berth in the starting XI for the first Test against England in Cardiff on July 8.
The XI gives few clues to the selectors’ thinking regarding the fast-bowling make-up, with Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle – the unit that led Australia to a five-nil Ashes whitewash on home soil in 2013-14 – all given starts.
Warner is rested from the match, as are middle-order batsman Adam Voges, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon’s absence means his recently revealed new ‘mystery ball’ will stay under wraps for at least another week, and ensures leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed will play this match as the sole spinner in the Australian XI, having not played since Australia’s warm-up match in Antigua ahead of the two Tests against the West Indies.
Australia will play a second warm-up match, against county side Essex, starting next Wednesday, July 1.
Kent captain Sam Northeast said he expected large crowds to see the tourists in action over the four days of the match, and vowed his side would not be taking it easy on the visitors.
Australian XI: C. Rogers, S. Marsh, S. Smith, M. Clarke, S. Watson, M. Marsh, B. Haddin, M. Johnson, R. Harris, P. Siddle, Fawad Ahmed.