Australia ‘A’ game against England best opportunity for Ashes call-up: White

SYDNEY - Australian all-rounder Cameron White believes that youngsters have no better opportunity to stake their claims for Ashes selection than by excelling in the ongoing four-day match against England.

White is currently the captain of the Australia ‘A’ team facing England at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.

“Five Test matches are a long time. You’d be surprised if there wasn’t one or two injuries across the five Tests, especially with bowlers,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted White, as saying.

“You would expect pretty flat pitches. It could be hard work … I’d be very surprised if some of them didn’t take a decent part in the Tests. I would assume if [Khawaja and Ferguson] do well it’s not going to hurt their cause,” he added.

The 27-year-old was however not so convinced about his own chances.

“I suppose there’s a small hope. A lot will depend on what happens in this game and probably the next couple of Shield matches for me. The facts are I’m not in the 17-man squad, so my chances would be rather slim I would have thought,” White said.

“I didn’t really know where I was before that anyway to be totally honest. What can you do? They’re not going to change their mind now,” he added.

Earlier, Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) had announced a provisional 17-man Ashes squad for the first Test to be played in Brisbane from November 25.

NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said that the team would be reduced to a 12 or 13-man squad at the conclusion of the Australia ‘A’ match and this week’s three Sheffield Shield matches. (ANI)