Aussies tight-lipped on XI, England confirm switch

Jason Roy insists he's under no illusions over the difficulty of transferring his white-ball wizardry to the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series, but declared Australia's more experienced bowlers are under far more pressure than he is.

Josh Hazlewood this week warned Roy, the World Cup-winning opener who regularly bats in the middle-order in first-class cricket, that his belligerent batting style will be difficult to replicate against the new ball on seaming English wickets against Australia's star-studded bowling attack.

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Hazlewood, one of four Australian Ashes squad members with more than 150 Test wickets, referenced the struggles of Aaron Finch who like Roy had to wait to earn a spot in the longest format after years of dominant one-day form.

"Finchy found it a big step up," said Hazlewood. "He found the ball swung and seamed around and the wickets were a lot different to a one-day wicket.

"To play attacking cricket in those conditions is tough. (Finch) had played a lot of his four-day cricket at five or six and I think Roy is the same.

"It's hard to bat five at a level below and then open in Test cricket."

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But Roy, who made his Test debut against Ireland last week after playing 116 international limited-overs games, flipped the heat back onto Australia's bowlers.

"(Hazlewood) is absolutely right. It is a different game and of course it’s going to be hard. He’s stating the obvious there isn’t he?" Roy told the Daily Mail.

"But they’re going to be under more pressure than I am.

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"Australia’s attack have played Test cricket. They should know how to bowl and they’re under pressure to get me out.

"I’m going in with open eyes and I’m expecting a lot of verbals. If it’s already started then great. That just gets you going.

"It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging, it’s a new prospect for me. But it will be fun."

Finch initially had success opening in the Test arena, averaging 45 in his maiden series on low, slow surfaces in the UAE against Pakistan, before finding the going tougher at home against India's world-class attack and subsequently lost his spot.

Roy too has made a bright enough start to his Test career. He stroked 10 boundaries and a six in a breezy second-innings 72 to help England recover from being bowled out for just 85 on the first morning of the match against Ireland.

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The 29-year-old's first half-century, however, came from No.3 after England made the rare move of sending a nightwatchman out to open in his place to face the first day's final over. The unusual ploy paid off handsomely as Jack Leach, a regular No.11, earned player-of-the-match honours for his 92.

But Hazlewood was encouraged.

"I'm pretty happy with that. It means he doesn't want to go out there, doesn't it? I'm not sure," Hazlewood said with a grin.

"I was talking to Joe Burns the other day, I said if I have a big lunch maybe you can go out and bowl the first couple of overs after lunch if I'm a bit full? He said no.

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"Their top order is under a little bit of pressure probably, with just the fact they haven't played that much Test cricket.

"The more we can put them under pressure early and get stuck into that middle order when the ball is nice and hard and new, that's great."

Roy denied he'd shirked the responsibility.

"I was happy to open," Roy said. "It’s my job and I won’t shy away from it.

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"I’ve never had a nightwatchman in county cricket but I couldn’t say, 'No coach, no captain, I’m going in,' because if I’d nicked off I would have looked an idiot.

"But it worked out all right and I think Leachy should be on the honours board for his 92."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5, Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval