The Ashes 2019: Two Aussies teams picked for final selection battle trial in Southampton
Pat Cummins says they’ll be going hard at each other while Jackson Bird admitted ‘everyone is looking forward to it’ as Australia ramp up their Ashes preparation with an intriguing concept.
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Australia’s top cricketers will face each other in a four-day intra-squad clash; their final warm-up before the first Ashes Test begins on August 1.
Injured Usman Khawaja was a notable absentee from the star-studded teams picked by Australia’s batting coach Graeme Hick and fielding mentor Brad Haddin.
Pat Cummins, who will line up for the Haddin XII, said he was looking forward to playing his best red-ball compatriots.
“It’ll definitely get the adrenaline up like in a Test match,” Cummins said.
“It doesn’t happen too often - you’ll see our egos be put to the test, we’ll be going at each other I think.”
The Hick XII’s Jackson Bird joked that it was also an opportunity to settle some differences within the squad.
“Usually after a few weeks on tour a few blokes will cop it from other blokes, airing their grievances over the tour,” he said.
“You don’t usually get to do things like this, so I think everyone is looking forward to it.”
The clash will be at Ageas Bowl from July 23-26, with Australia’s Ashes squad set to be named at the end of the encounter.
Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Two Aussies teams picked for final selection battle trial in Southampton
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