• Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh to open for Australia against Kent 
  • David Warner, certain to start in the first Ashes Test, is being rested
  • Australia take on the County side over four days starting Thursday 
  • Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle will be the pacemen
  • Nathan Lyon is rested as leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is named in XI 
  • Australia vs England: CLICK HERE for the latest Ashes 2015 build-up 

By

Michael Gadd for MailOnline


Published:
11:54 GMT, 24 June 2015

|
Updated:
11:02 GMT, 25 June 2015

Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh have a chance to stake their claim for Australia’s other Ashes opening spot alongside with David Warner when they take on Kent in Canterbury from Thursday.

Michael Clarke’s side took the field at The Spitfire Ground on Wednesday ahead of a four-day match against the County team with questions about who will make up his XI in the first Test against England in Cardiff on July 8 still to be answered.

Warner has been rested so Rogers and Marsh can be tested at the top of the order while both all-rounders in the touring squad, Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh, have also been included. 

Australia's Chris Rogers continues his return from a concussion lay-off as the tourists train in Canterbury

Australia’s Chris Rogers continues his return from a concussion lay-off as the tourists train in Canterbury

Rogers and Shaun Marsh, pictured in the nets at The Spitfire Ground, will both open the batting against Kent

Rogers and Shaun Marsh, pictured in the nets at The Spitfire Ground, will both open the batting against Kent

Marsh took Rogers' place on tour in the West Indies but failed to deliver a big score to make it permanent

Marsh took Rogers’ place on tour in the West Indies but failed to deliver a big score to make it permanent

Veteran quick Ryan Harris (centre) laughs as Australia train in Kent ahead of their four-day tour match

Veteran quick Ryan Harris (centre) laughs as Australia train in Kent ahead of their four-day tour match

World No 1 batsman Steven Smith limbers up as preparations for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff ramps up

World No 1 batsman Steven Smith limbers up as preparations for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff ramps up

Rogers began his comeback from a concussion layoff with a second innings 70 in a match with an Elite International Academy side and Hampshire Second XI on the Isle of Wight last week. 

The Middlesex captain is attempting to take back his spot filled in the Caribbean by Marsh, who managed only one score over 20 in the 2-0 series win – a 69 in the second innings of the second Test in Kingston.

Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, who spearheaded Australia’s 5-0 Ashes win in 2013-14, will be in action while the side’s most impressive quicks in the latest series whitewash in the West Indies, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, are rested.

Veteran speedster Harris was also in action on the Isle of Wight, looking sharp and swinging the new ball after missing the West Indies tour due a decision by the Aussie management to keep him on cotton wool until they reached England. 

Adam Voges, who scored a century on debut at age 35 in the West Indies, and first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon have also been left out of the warm-up. Pakistani-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is getting his first start since the tour match in Barbados.

Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin plays meaning his understudy Peter Nevill sits out.

The remainder of the line-up includes recently anointed world No 1 batsman Steven Smith and captain Clarke, who will likely bat at No 3 and No 4. 

Australia will play a second warm-up match, against county side Essex, starting next Wednesday, July 1.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann addresses his troops as the practiced on Wednesday

Australia coach Darren Lehmann addresses his troops as the practiced on Wednesday

David Warner, rested from the tour match, rolls his arm over in the nets in Canterbury

David Warner, rested from the tour match, rolls his arm over in the nets in Canterbury

All-rounder Shane Watson stretches ahead of a head-to-head showdown with Mitchell Marsh

All-rounder Shane Watson stretches ahead of a head-to-head showdown with Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Johnson will play in the Kent tour game while Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc sit out

Mitchell Johnson will play in the Kent tour game while Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc sit out

Brad Haddin will take the chance to acclimatise to English conditions during the first of two tour matches

Brad Haddin will take the chance to acclimatise to English conditions during the first of two tour matches

Hazlewood, who was player of the series in the West Indies, is being rested from the match

Hazlewood, who was player of the series in the West Indies, is being rested from the match

Aussie captain Michael Clarke (right) speaks with the team's strength and conditioning coach Damian Mednis

Aussie captain Michael Clarke (right) speaks with the team’s strength and conditioning coach Damian Mednis

Peter Siddle, who helped Australia to the 5-0 Ashes whitewash Down Under, gets his chance in Kent

Peter Siddle, who helped Australia to the 5-0 Ashes whitewash Down Under, gets his chance in Kent

Johnson stretches as the big left-armer looks to terrorise the England batsmen all over again

Johnson stretches as the big left-armer looks to terrorise the England batsmen all over again

Starc, the player of the World Cup, hones his catching during a fielding session on Wednesday

Starc, the player of the World Cup, hones his catching during a fielding session on Wednesday

Fawad Ahmed will get his first run in Australian colours since a tour match at the start of the West Indies tour

Fawad Ahmed will get his first run in Australian colours since a tour match at the start of the West Indies tour

Clarke chats with Australian bowling coach Craig McDermott at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury

Clarke chats with Australian bowling coach Craig McDermott at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury

 


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