Brett Lee is prepared for a battle of firepower when Australia’s pace bowlers jostle for an Ashes berth in their four-day tour be proportionate against Sussex starting on Wednesday darkness (EST).
The NSW quick is in unambiguous competition through Stuart Clark, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus for the seemly to play alongside Mitchell Johnson in the primeval Test in Cardiff from July 8.
Another warm-up against the second-string England Lions in Worcester from July 1-4 will besides help Australia finalise their line-up.
“There’s a lot of competition – maths at school, you know that 16 doesn’t go into 11,” Lee said.
“To me the true test will have existence these two trial matches arrival up.
“The guys that play well, certainly from a bowler’s point of contemplate, and without putting press upon ourselves, we know it’s a bit of a shoot-out.
“But that’sitting healthy and that makes it exciting, too.”
Johnson is a certainty to lead the attack against England, though captain Ricky Ponting won’t say so publicly.
“I don’face to face think we can handful anyone in just yet,” said Ponting.
The Australians can field 12 players against Sussex, which will assist the Test selectors.
“There will be certain things that I’ll ask of every player to be able to do by the end of this game and hopefully they can prepare that and adapt and adjust to the conditions,” Ponting said.
“We’ve got two games. It’sitting not being of the class who granting that it’s going to be an out-and-out bowl done or each out-and-out bat off between any players. I just want to see what everyone’s got in these conditions and what they can deliver for the team.
“That’sitting what it all comes down to in international cricket, it’s about delivering the skills you need to deliver when it counts.”
With the Hove pitch expected to mirror the turning Cardiff deck more closely than others around the country, Ponting let slip that spinner Nathan Hauritz would feature.
“There be inclined be a good opportunity there for us as batsmen to make acquisition used to the make haste and the bounce and maybe a tittle of prolong,” he declared.
“It will be a good opportunity for our bowlers to experience those conditions and work out the lines and lengths they need to bowl.
“It will be a good chance for Hauritz to get some good exposure in these sorts of conditions.”
AAP
