Cricket Australia have responded to pressure from the ECB and agreed to organise England stronger opposition for their final tour match before the first Ashes Test.
The late change to the schedule – swapping a second-string NSW XI for an Invitational XI packed with batting talent for the Sydney match – gives England a boost in the intensity of their preparations for Gabba Test starting on November 21.
In exchange, England have agreed to reciprocate by improving the quality of the teams Australia will face in the UK before the 2015 Ashes.
England were unhappy they would face a second-choice NSW XI from November 13 at the SCG, with the Blues’ strongest players involved in a Sheffield Shield fixture against Queensland in Brisbane.
CA agreed to the England request late on Wednesday, deciding to make it an invitational team featuring top batsmen from around the country – expected to include Usman Khawaja (Qld), Ed Cowan (Tas), Phil Hughes (SA), Aaron Finch (Vic) and Adam Voges (WA).
NSW will provide a batsman and the bowlers, however the Blues’ strongest bowlers will still play the shield match in Queensland.
Australia faced under-strength opposition Somerset and Worcestershire before the Ashes campaign in the UK earlier this year, although dropped England opener Nick Compton did play in the Worcestershire game.
However, CA team performance manager Pat Howard says the invitational team has been agreed to on the proviso that England return the favour.
“The ECB is supportive of this plan. It wanted us to field a strong line-up, so we will use the opportunity to promote key players in the Australian system,” said Howard.
“In return, we look forward to the ECB fielding powerful teams for the touring Australian side in 2015.
“We appreciate the cooperation of all the state associations in supporting this plan, particularly as it coincides with the third round of Shield matches.”
CA says the match will provide a chance for some of the top emerging batsmen to face international opposition, however the States will have to cope in round three of the Shield without their full complement of batsmen.
