News / Scores / Thoughts about the 2015 Ashes Series First Test: Cardiff - 8-12 July Second Test: Lord's - 16-20 July Third Test: Edgbaston - 29 July - 2 August Fourth Test: Trent Bridge - 6-10 August Fifth Test: The Oval - 20-24 August
Middlesex captain Adam Voges and Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed have been included in Australia's 17-man Test squad to play England this summer. Australia squad in full: Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, (vc) Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.
Shaun Marsh made his claim for a place in Australia's Test team with a century against Kent on the opening day of their Ashes tour. The left-handed opener, 31, scored 114 as Australia racked up 348-3 after being put in to bat on a true pitch under cloudless skies in Canterbury. Chris Rogers, vying with Marsh for an opening spot, made 84, while captain Michael Clarke scored 56 off 73 balls. Steve Smith was unbeaten on 71 at the close, with Shane Watson eight not out.
Kent 203 for 5 (Key 87, Johnson 3-42) trail Australians 507 for 8 decl (Marsh 114, Smith 111, Rogers 84, Clarke 56) by 304 runs Where Mitchell Johnson signalled his intent to again dent England with spells of speed and venom on a Canterbury pitch that offered him little help, neither Shane Watson nor Mitchell Marsh were able to push ahead as the allrounder most likely to take a pivotal place in Australia's first Test XI.
If Chris Rogers hoped the "ticketgate" incident had blown over, news that the MCC has launched a formal investigation will have provoked a rethink. Rogers, the Australia opening batsman, was left red-faced earlier this week when it emerged that the company he owns with former Middlesex colleague Tom Scollay had been attempting to onward sell tickets acquired through his contact at Middlesex for the Investec Ashes Test at Lord's contrary to regulations. Now it seems that Rogers' attempts to explain himself have only dragged him deeper into the mire.
England captain Alastair Cook has said there is no batting practice planned for the team bonding trip to Spain. A 14-man squad leaves on Saturday for a four-day clinic with new coach Trevor Bayliss before the Ashes on 8 July. "We don't need to constantly train, we don't lose it in two or three days of not picking up a bat," said Cook. "We're in a unique situation, that 11 days before an Ashes series none of us had met the new coach before, so going away seemed to be the best option."
Mitchell Marsh scored a rapid century as Australia built a commanding lead of 549 on the third day of their tour match against Kent. The 23-year-old, who is vying with Shane Watson for the Ashes all-rounder berth, brought his hundred up off 93 balls, including five sixes, before retiring on 101. Watson himself made a 76-ball 81 as Australia reached 322-4 at stumps.
Australians 507 for 8 dec (S Marsh 114, Smith 111, Rogers 84, Clarke 56, Hunn 5-99) and 322 for 4 dec (M Marsh 101, Watson 81) beat Kent 280 (Key 87, Johnson 4-56) and 294 (Bell-Drummond 127, Claydon 53, Smith 3-54) by 255 runs
England squad to face Australia in first Test: Alastair Cook (Essex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham).
Ryan Harris was effectively ruled out of contention for the first Investec Test in Cardiff when he was unable to be passed fit for the tourists' final warm-up against Essex, instead being sent for scans to determine the cause of greater knee pain than he has become accustomed to. In Harris' absence the Australian bowling attack for the Cardiff Test is all but settled, with Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to accompany the spin of Nathan Lyon, as they did during two Tests in the West Indies that Harris missed to be home for the birth of his first child.
I think England need to play Rashid. There are a lot of good batting wickets around now. Ali isn't going to take wickets or contain. Rashid will pick up wickets. As we saw in the ODI series v NZ, he can make the odd ball do strange things.
Trevor Bayliss has promised England will "fight fire with fire" in the Investec Ashes this summer. In his first press conference as England coach, Bayliss suggested the team had fallen behind the rest of the world over the last few years and promised a continuation of the spirit shown in recent games against New Zealand. He also confirmed that Moeen Ali remains England's first-choice spinner.
Essex 299 for 3 (Westley 144, Bopara 86*) trail Australians 562 (Marsh 169, Warner 94, Nevill 78, Watson 52, Porter 3-97) by 263 runs
Australians 562 and 212 for 8 (Clarke 77) lead Essex 414 (Bopara 107, Starc 6-51) by 360 runs at the end of day 3
James Faulkner, the World Cup-winning Australia allrounder, may be left out of the ODI squad for the series following the Ashes after he spent Thursday night in a prison cell in Manchester on a drink driving charge.
Sad news - Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris has retired from the sport because of a knee injury, dealing the tourists a major blow going into the Ashes. Harris is replaced in the Australia squad by New South Wales' Pat Cummins.
Australians beat Essex by 169 runs at Chelmsford Australians 562 (Marsh 169, Nevill 78, Warner 94, Watson 52) and 221 (Clarke 77, Porter 3-42) - Essex 414 (Westley 144, Bopara 107, Starc 6-51) and 200 (ten Doeschate 61, Hazlewood 4-42, Starc 3-26)