Australia reveal line-up for first game of 2015 Ashes tour
Wednesday 24 June 2015 14:41, UK
Mitchell Johnson will spearhead the Australia attack in the tourists first game of their Ashes tour against Kent on Thursday.
Johnson, man-of-the-series in the last Ashes in Australia, will line up with Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris, plus leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed in the bowling attack at Canterbury.
Chris Rogers, who missed the recent Test matches in the West Indies because of concussion, will open along with Shaun Marsh. Steve Smith, skipper Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh make up the top six, with keeper Brad Haddin at No 7.
Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison does not believe Australia will field both their left-arm fast bowlers Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the same Test.
Starc is left out of the opening match along with opener David Warner – who is almost certain to start the series – seamer Josh Hazlewood, keeper Peter Nevill and batsman Adam Voges.
Shaun Marsh replaced Rogers in the Caribbean and did well, so the pair look to be fighting out for the right to partner Warner in the first Test in Cardiff.
"That's for the selectors to decide," Rogers said. "He's a fantastic players who was asked to do a job and he did a good job. It was particularly tough with the new ball over in the West Indies.
"That's the great thing about our squad. We've got depth and a lot of blokes with confidence."
The first Ashes Test is live from Cardiff on our dedicated Sky Sports Ashes channel from Wednesday July 8.
