Australia want to use 12 players in warm up games

Cricket Australia has asked England for permission to use an extra man in Ashes warm up matches to help solve some selection issues.



With Brett Lee and Stuart Clark coming back from injuries, the Australians have five pacemen to select from.



Cricket Australia official Michael Brown confirmed today that a request had gone to the England and Wales Cricket Board for permission to use 12 players in the tour matches.



These matches are against Sussex from June 24 to 27 and against an English selection at Worcester July 1 to 4.



England were allowed to do the same ahead of the 2006 to 2007 series in Australia, which they lost 5-0.



The Australian squad leaves tomorrow for England, with the Twenty/Twenty World Cup on the schedule ahead of the Ashes tests, which start July 8 at Cardiff.