England aces line up to face Aussies (From Echo)

England aces line up to face Aussies

11:23am Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Sport By James Colasanti

ESSEX have named England stars Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara in their team for their eagerly-anticipated tourist clash with Australia at the County Ground today.

The county host the Aussies in a 50-overs day/night match starting at 2pm in a game which has been sold out for weeks.

And with England preparing to play Australia in five one-day internationals, it will give the country’s one-day skipper Cook and all-rounder Bopara a chance to take an early look at the tourists.

The fixture also stirs up memories of a match in 2005 when Essex hosted Australia at Chelmsford in a clash in which an un-capped Cook made his name when he scored 214 and Bopara weighed in with 135.

Essex coach Paul Grayson says it will once again give players the chance to shine against the world’s number one ranked one-day side.

“It’s a great opportunity for the lads because it’s not often that you get a chance to play Australia, and especially at Chelmsford in a floodlit game,” he said.

“It’s a great chance for our squad to show everyone what good cricketers they are.

“The Aussies will want to be at their best because they are about to start their one-day series against England.

“We know that it will be a tough game, they’ll be fully at it on Tuesday like we will be because we want to put in a big performance.

“I’m sure the Essex support will come out and get behind us and I can guarantee everyone that we won’t be taking this game easy.

“In the past, I know some second team players have been selected for tourists’ matches.

“But all our lads are desperate to play in this match against some top players.”

Essex team: Foster, Pettini, Cook, Bopara, Westley, Smith, ten Doeschate, Napier, Phillips, Millsn and Topley.

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