Australia wants 12-man pre-Test tour games

Melbourne, May 27 (ANI): Cricket Australia has requested the England and Wales Cricket Board for permission to play an extra man in its two tour matches to allow all five quicks an opportunity to build cases for a first Test inclusion.

The return of old-stagers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark has created a logjam of contenders after Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus combined superbly for a rousing 2-1 series win in South Africa in March.

Ponting has said the selectors would choose the best attack for the English conditions.

There's a strong case for playing four specialist quicks but off-spinner Nathan Hauritz is well placed to start the series with the Cardiff wicket expected to suit slow bowlers.

Cricket Australia's general manager of cricket Michael Brown said yesterday it had made a request to the ECB to play 12 players in the pre-Test tour matches against Sussex at Hove (June 24-27) and England Lions at Worcester (July 1-4). England is expected to grant permission as Australia allowed its men to do the same when it toured here in 2006-07. (ANI)