Cricket Australia (CA) has reportedly agreed to organise a stronger opposition for England for their final tour match before the first Test of the winter Ashes series, in response to pressure from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The late change to the schedule - swapping a second-string New South Wales (NSW) XI for an Invitational XI packed with batting talent for the Sydney match - gives England a boost in the intensity of their preparations for Gabba Test starting on November 21.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, CA agreed to the ECB request and decided to make an invitational team featuring top batsmen from around the country, which is expected to include Usman Khawaja, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch and Adam Voges.
The report mentioned that in exchange, England has agreed to reciprocate by improving the quality of the teams Australia will face in the UK before the 2015 Ashes, adding that the tourists are unhappy over the fact that they would face a second-choice NSW XI with the team's strongest players involved in a Sheffield Shield fixture.
CA team performance manager Pat Howard said that they would use the opportunity to promote key players in the Australian system, adding that the match will provide a chance for some of the top emerging batsmen to face international opposition.
