Test prospects Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle have been included in a Prime Minister's XI to play New Zealand in the first match of its Australian cricket tour at Canberra on Friday.
Batsmen Bancroft, Burns, Khawaja and Voges, and fast bowler Siddle, are allseen to have strong chances of inclusion in Australia's squad for the first of three tests against the Kiwis, starting in Brisbane on Nov. 5.
The PM's XI will play New Zealand in a day-night one-day match at Canberra's Manuka Oval, using the pink ball which will also be used in the third test at Adelaide, the world's first day-night test match.
Former test star Michael Hussey will captain the team.
Bancroft, Burns and Khawaja are seen as leading contenders to fill top-order vacancies in the Australia team left by the retirements of opener Chris Rogers and ex-captain Michael Clarke. They, along with Voges and Siddle, were named in Australia's team to play two-tests in Bangladesh this month before that tour was called off over security concerns.
Friday's match now offers the batsmen, especially, a chance to press their cases for test selection.
"Given we are only a few weeks away from the first test at the Gabba, it is an ideal opportunity for us to watch a group of highly-rated players and see how they perform against a quality New Zealand side," selector Rod Marsh said.
"Unfortunately due to the postponed Bangladesh tour players such as Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, and Usman Khawaja all missed opportunities to perform on the international stage. We're keeping a close eye on these players ahead as we prepare to select the test squad."
Prime Minister's XI: Michael Hussey (captain), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, David Hussey, Ryan Carters, Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle, Jason Behrendorff, Mark Steketee, Ben Taylor (12th man).
