Aussie A-team for trial match

AUSTRALIA would prefer to square off against its own players than risk sabotage by a substandard English team in the build-up to next year’s Ashes.

In farcical scenes in Dubai, Tim Paine’s side will today try to prepare for next week’s first Test against Pakistan by taking on a Pakistan A team which is deliberately fielding no spinners in its line-up.

It will rob Australia’s newlook batting line-up of a crucial opportunity to get eyes in against spin before they are bombarded by Pakistan’s slow bowlers on a Dubai deck that so embarrassed the touring side four years ago led by Michael Clarke.

However, as planning is finalised for next year’s Ashes, Australia is looking to take foul play out of the equation, and in a shock move, is looking to turn its back on the traditional warm-up against an English county side.

It’s understood Australia is considering playing its pre-series tour match against Australia A ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston on August 1.

Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath were embroiled in a fiery physical exchange back in the mid-1990s when the Australia v Australia A concept was last in vogue.

Hayden took exception to McGrath accidentally sticking an elbow in his path as he ran between wickets and the pair traded expletives.

Australia might not want emotions spilling over to quite that level, but it would need the clash against Australia A to be an ultra-competitive and proper first-class fixture.

There is less than two weeks between the World Cup final at Lord’s and the first Ashes Test, meaning that if Australia goes deep into the Cup tournament it will only have limited preparation time at its disposal.

Cricket Australia has deliberately planned an Australia A tour to coincide with the World Cup in a bid to keep non one-day Test squad members in form in English conditions and provide back-up options in the case of injury.

The last couple of Ashes tours, county teams have tended to rest players for matches against Australia.

However, Cricket Australia is not innocent on this count either, with poor pitches and junior teams often put out against touring nations.

Pakistan’s tactic of not playing any spinners in the warmup match could backfire if Australia’s top order feasts on the seamers bowling on a flat wicket and play themselves into form.