Australia A batters miss chance to fire against Lions

Thirteen wickets fell on day one of the tour match between Australia A and England Lions as a string of Test batting hopefuls missed their chance to push for top-level recalls.

The hosts started steadily at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane but no batter was able to cash in, Australia A dismissed for 213 and the Lions 3-13 in reply at stumps.

Openers Henry Hunt (33) and Bryce Street (26), No.3 Matt Renshaw (38) and Twenty20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh (33) were all dismissed just as meaningful scores loomed, while Nic Maddinson (0) and Usman Khawaja (11) also missed out.

Fast bowler Mark Steketee (39) top-scored thanks to some late fireworks before collecting a wicket maiden from his only over.

Selected ahead of Khawaja to play at the Gabba, Travis Head justified the decision with a brilliant unbeaten century but Marcus Harris (three) was unconvincing at the top of the order.

While frontline spinner Jack Leach (1-95 from 11 overs) was attacked at the Gabba, fellow English tweaker Dom Bess (4-80) pushed his case alongside quick Liam Norwell (5-58).

Michael Neser (1-6 from five overs) and Scott Boland (1-7 from four overs) were a handful with the new ball for Australia A.

Neser is pressing along with Jhye Richardson for a Test berth this summer.

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, TBC