Warm-up game gives Test hopefuls an outing

Legspinner Fawad Ahmed, batsman Adam Voges and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill will be out to impress in Australia’s warm-up match in the Caribbean next week.

The trio have all been named to play against a West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI in Antigua in a three-day match starting on Wednesday.

Captain Michael Clarke confirmed on Saturday the five members of the touring squad who had Indian Premier League commitments – Mitchell Johnson, David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson – will all sit out the opening game of the tour.

That means Fawad, Voges and Nevill will all be able to make a case for a possible Test debut against the West Indies in Dominica starting on June 3.

Clarke says the game provides a great opportunity for the trio to push for selection along with Shaun Marsh, who will open the batting alongside Rogers in the absence of Warner.

“Those four guys definitely have a great opportunity to fight their way into the eleven,” Clarke said.

“The two spinner thing will be dictated by conditions, we’ll wait and see what we get in Dominica but looking at the games England played here against the West Indies the ball spun a fair bit so it’s nice to have options, that’s for sure.”

Clarke confirmed despite the presence of Nevill, Brad Haddin will retain the wicketkeeping duties.

The Australians trained on Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with IPL latecomers Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson on light duties as they continue their recovery from the flight over.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is expected to arrive in the Caribbean on Monday while Shane Watson, who travelled to Australia for the birth of his second child, isn’t expected to join the team until the first day of the tour match on Wednesday.

TEAM TO PLAY WICB PRESIDENT’S XI

Chris Rogers, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Fawad Ahmed.

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