Aussie IPL stars to miss tour match

The bulk of Australia's Indian Premier League contingent - Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, David Warner and Shane Watson - will miss next week's practice match against a WICB President's XI in Antigua.

Captain Michael Clarke today confirmed the XI for the three-day first-class fixture, starting here on Wednesday, with those just arrived from India given a chance to rest ahead of the first Test in Dominica on June 3.

Smith and Warner did only light duties at training on Saturday, both given time to recover from the long flight having arrived in the Caribbean later than the bulk of the squad due to their IPL commitments.

Starc is set to land in Antigua sometime in the next few days after his Royal Challengers Bangalore were knocked out of the IPL on Friday, while Shane Watson is due in sometime next week following the arrival of baby daughter Matilda last night. The allrounder was already scheduled to miss the tour match having returned to Australia from India for the birth.

The other two Australians to play in the IPL before joining the Test squad - Johnson and Shaun Marsh - had a longer break than initially anticipated after both were released by Kings Punjab XI on May 11.

Marsh will open the batting alongside Chris Rogers in next week's match, while Johnson will miss the game and instead work on his bowling in the nets ahead of a challenging winter schedule that features seven Tests in less than 12 weeks.

"We've got to be smart with guys that have just come off a plane," Clarke said after training on Saturday.

“We’re obviously waiting for Watto and Starcy to arrive as well.

"We picked the team based on allowing guys to recover as well as they possibly can."

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The match has been granted full first-class status, unlike the warm-up game on Australia's recent tour of the UAE, meaning both sides can pick just 11 players each instead of rotating players in and out of the side.

It means that the five to miss out in Antigua will go into the first Test without having a played a first-class match since the fourth Test against India in January.

While seemingly far from an ideal situation, it proved to be no challenge for New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson this week, who posted a brilliant 132 in the first Test against England at Lord's just a week after arriving in the UK from the IPL.

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Photo: Williamson celebrates his century at Lord's // Getty Images

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and pace duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee have also performed strongly in the first Test despite missing the warm-up matches due to the IPL.

Clarke says players being forced to adjust between formats, as well as cope with significant travel demands, is part and parcel of the modern game.

"There's no choice, is there? That's the way it is with the structure of cricket that goes on around the world," he said.

"We've got used to that over the past few years and this will be no different.

"(The five to miss out) will get as much training as they can done during the tour game in the lead up to Dominica.

"That's the hardest part of scheduling at the moment.

"You've got to try and sum up what's best of for the team versus what's best for the individual player.

"We believe in the lead in to this first Test, it's better for those guys to rest and get what they need training rather than play the first-class game."

WICB President's XI v Australian XI

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, May 27 - 29

Australia XI: Chris Rogers, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Fawad Ahmed

WICB President's XI (13-man squad): Leon Johnson (c), Carlos Brathwaite (vc), Sharmarh Brooks, Rajindra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich, Imran Khan, Marquino Mindley, Jason Mohammed, Tyrone Theophile, Jomel Warrican