Ashes hopeful primed for Australia's 'All-Star game'

More details about the pivotal Australia-Australia A clash that precedes the first Ashes Test have emerged, with the four-day match set to be a fully-fledged first-class fixture.

The game in Southampton on July 23-26 looms as an unprecedented selection shootout between the best 22 red-ball cricketers in Australia, representing the last chance for Ashes aspirants to impress before the squad to face England is named at the end of the match.

The first Test in Birmingham begins on August 1.

In the recent past, tour games have often not held first-class status to allow the tourists to play more than 11 players and give more members of their squad valuable match practice prior to or during a Test series.

But the pivotal clash at the Ageas Bowl will carry the weight of first-class status, along with the pressure of competing for an Ashes berth.

Test incumbent and Australia A squad member Kurtis Patterson has likened the match to the annual NBA All-Star game, saying it evokes memories of the often-fiery Australia v Australia A one-day matches in the mid-1990s.

"As far as I'm aware the game's got first-class status," Patterson said on the latest episode of The Unplayable Podcast. "That's huge in itself.

"There'll be no substitutions or guys going off for breaks. It's a first-class game. It's going to be ultra-competitive.

"I remember when I was younger watching Matt Hayden and Glenn McGrath sledging each other and getting into it and the Australian public was behind the Australia A team, which is a great metaphor for the way we live.

"I'm excited for it if I get the opportunity to play. It'll be a wonderful game.

"It's almost our equivalent of the NBA All-Star game, Australian cricket's All-Star game.

"The fact that it's in English conditions as well will be good experience for everyone. But for those guys who make the Test squad, it will be a great competitive hit out before that first Test."

Patterson heads to England next Friday as the country's incumbent Test No.6 having made his debut at the Gabba last summer against Sri Lanka before posting his maiden Test century in the following match in Canberra.

While he will be competing with A teammates Travis Head, Peter Handscomb and Will Pucovski for a middle-order spot, Patterson says creating the strongest Australian cricket team as possible is what really matters.

Image Id: 84F27AFDC9554A5ABAF64B550C3BC0ED Image Caption: The Australia v Australia A matches in the mid-1990s were ultra competitive // Getty

"One thing was a really good learning curve for me last year at the Blues was how you have to commit yourself to something bigger than yourself," Patterson said.

"For me, last year was just trying to help as many of the young guys and help upskill them to be present and future NSW players.

"I enjoy talking with other batters about batting and talking to other cricketers and that won't stop.

"There's competition there, we all know that, but it's for the good of Australian cricket if you're all there to help each other out and the betterment of the team, which at the end of the day is what it's all about."

Another challenge Patterson faces in retaining his Test place for the Ashes are the returns of Steve Smith and David Warner.

The former leadership duo made their international comeback in Saturday's World Cup win over Afghanistan in Bristol, with Warner scoring an unbeaten 89 and Smith starring in the field.

With the pair fit and firing, it's expected both batsmen will return to Australia's Test batting order for the Ashes and put a selection squeeze on the existing line-up.

Again, Patterson says he wants what's best for his team, adding he hopes to score enough runs to on the A tour make sure he's part of the squad that will aim to retain the urn they won in 2017-18.

"You've got two guys who are not just two of the best batters in the country but two of the best batters in the world," Patterson said. “Of course, you're going to welcome them back with open arms.

"It's great for Australian cricket, great for world cricket that they're both back playing and both of them have shown with their recent form how good they are.

"If the opportunity comes to play with those guys again, that'll be wonderful because every time I've been able to play with them for NSW it's always been really enjoyable and I've learned a lot.

"Hopefully (I score) a few runs and that opportunity can come along again."

The clash in Southampton will be the final leg of the month-long A tour, which will start on June 20 with the first of five one-day matches and be followed by four-day games against Sussex, England Lions and then Australia.

Australia batting coach Graeme Hick will mentor the Australia A team, with former Ashes tourists Adam Voges and Ryan Harris called in as assistant coaches for the four-day games.

Australia A tour of the UK

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Ashton Turner, Mitch Marsh (vc), D'Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Sean Abbott

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain

One-day fixtures:

June 20: Australia A v Northamptonshire, The County Ground, Northamptonshire

June 23: Australia A v Derbyshire, County Ground, Derby

June 25: Australia A v Worcestershire, New Road, Worcester

June 30: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol Country Ground, Bristol

July 2: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol Country Ground, Bristol

Four-day fixtures:

July 7-10: Australia A v Sussex, Arundel Castle Cricket Ground, Arundel

July 13-16: Australia A v England Lions, The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury

July 23-26: Australia v Australia A, Ageas Bowl, Hampshire