England send bowlers to Brisbane to acclimatise
England will send their first-choice Test bowling quartet of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann to Brisbane to acclimatise for the first Ashes Test against Australia while the rest of the squad head south to Hobart for their final warm-up match against Australia A.
With conditions in the Tasmanian capital vastly different to the humid sub-tropical climate in Brisbane, the visitors have decided spending some time in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Queensland-c834 sun will be the best option for the three key bowlers, a decision that will provide their back-ups with a chance to push their cases should the need arise to replace Anderson, Broad, Finn or Swann during the series.
So squad members Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 along with young leg-spinner Steven Smith, both of whom were named in Australia’s extended 17-man Ashes squad today.
That squad will be pruned to 12 or 13 players before they head to Brisbane to prepare for the opening Ashes Test, which begins on November 25th, and a strong showing against England – even with a pared-back pace attack - by some of the fringe players this week can only help their chances of making the final cut.
One who won’t be among the action for the Australia A at Bellerive Oval is promising left-armed paceman Mitchell Starc, who has been sidelined for four weeks with a side strain. He has been replaced in the Australia A squad by Clint McKay.
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