Everyone gunning for No.6 spot: Cartwright

Allrounder Hilton Cartwright hopes a mountain of domestic runs will help him lock up Australia's No.6 Test batting spot in time for this summer's Ashes series.

Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh are among the leading candidates set to battle it out in coming months for Ashes selection.

The first three rounds of the Sheffield Shield season will prove crucial to their hopes, with the first Test against England starting on November 23 in Brisbane.

Western Australia's Cartwright has played two Tests for Australia - against Pakistan in January at the SCG and last month in Bangladesh.

The 25-year-old, scoring 37 and 18 in his only two Test knocks, knows he needs to prove his worth if he is to be selected for the Ashes.

Cartwright hopes he can bolster his case with a series of high scores for the Warriors in the early part of the Shield season.

"I think everyone in Australian cricket has got one eye on that No.6 batting spot," Cartwright said. "The top five are pretty much knuckled down.

"There's also a bowling spot up for grabs, I reckon.

"But that No.6 spot for all the guys who have had a couple of good seasons - there's every chance they can (cement) that spot (if they) get an opportunity.

"I want to make that my spot. Hopefully, if I make a good start to the Shield season, I can make that my spot."

Cartwright, who bowls right-arm medium pace, has also set his sights on a series of big scores for WA in the JLT One-Day Cup competition.

The Zimbabwe-born allrounder played just two games for Australia in the recent ODI series in India.

He failed on both occasions, scoring just one each time as a makeshift opener in the first two ODIs before being dropped.

Despite the lean run, Cartwright said he learned a lot from the experience - his first in Australia's ODI set-up.

And he'll aim to put those lessons to work when he lines up for WA in Saturday's one-day clash with Tasmania in Perth.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21