Certain players from the defeated Champions Trophy squad will join up with Australia A on Tuesday to maximise preparation time for the Ashes.
Following a disappointing pool-round exit from the Champions Trophy, Australia will use the extra time before next week’s opening tour match to give some players time with the A team, who completed a 93-run first-class win over Ireland in Belfast on Monday.
The players who will join the Australia A team for their match against Gloucestershire in Bristol starting on Friday are yet to be confirmed, however stand-in ODI captain George Bailey said a couple of batsmen would feature.
Michael Clarke won’t be one of those as he continues to take it slowly in his return to training from his latest back injury.
“I think a couple of the batters will maybe join up and play the Australia A game that’s due to start later this week so there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for those guys to get some match practice in,” Bailey said.
Meanwhile, national selector John Inverarity says calling Fawad Ahmed into the Ashes squad will be a judgment call when the time comes.
Inverarity told the BBC that Ahmed’s citizenship was likely to be processed in time for the first Test, but stressed nothing was locked in at this stage for the Pakistan-born asylum seeker to join Australia’s 16-man squad.
Ahmed broke through for his debut wicket for Australia A on Monday as they wrapped up a big win over Ireland.
The 31-year-old went wicketless in the first innings, but claimed the second-last scalp of the match to finish with 1-25 from a six-over spell in the second innings.
Ahmed will play in Australia A’s next match against Gloucestershire later this week and if laws have passed Senate to make him eligible by then, a decision will be made on whether he joins the squad.
“We’ll consider him for selection. That’s all it’s at this stage,” said Inverarity.
Already there’s plenty of hype and interest in Ahmed and Inverarity admits he’s concerned about the pressures the Victorian legspinner would face if selected for the Ashes.
However he’s confident Ahmed has the temperament to succeed.
“He’s handled himself well,” Inverarity said.
“There’s significant signs of great maturity but it’s still going to be very difficult.”
Australia A won the match by 93 runs despite significant rain delays, with a blistering 113 not out from 63 balls from Nic Maddinson opening the batting in the second innings really moving the game along.
Alex Doolan also made 53no for a superb unbeaten opening stand of 174.
Allrounder Moises Henriques was the star with the ball in the second innings, finishing with figures of 4-22 off 10 as Ireland were all out for 207.
