Gillespie and Kasprowicz fight for spot

Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz will battle for the final bowling place in Australia's team for the first Test after they were both named to play Leicestershire at Grace Road on Friday. Gillespie showed signs of returning to form at The Oval on Tuesday, where he took 3 for 44 despite being far from his best, and Kasprowicz also improved during the NatWest Challenge after an ordinary NatWest Series.

Glenn McGrath has been rested from Australia's only warm-up match before next Thursday and Brett Lee, who is tipped to take the new ball at Lord's, was given a chance to translate his one-day form into first-class cricket. Lee has not played a Test since January 2004 against India at Sydney.

While giving Gillespie and Kasprowicz time to find form is important, there is also a need for Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer to spend some time at the crease. Langer arrived in England this week and hasn't played competitive cricket since Australia's tour to New Zealand in March. Hayden did not make the most of his opportunities in the ODIs, scoring only one half-century against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, and was troubled by Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison.

Stuart MacGill was included in the XI with Shane Warne, who has already played half the season with Hampshire, rested. However, MacGill is unlikely to participate in the Test series until at least the third match at Old Trafford, where the spin-friendly wicket will encourage the Australians to consider playing both slow men.

MacGill will spot a familiar face in the opposition after Jason Krejza, the New South Wales offspinner, was drafted in by Leicestershire. Krejza, 22, has been playing for the Scottish club Greenock and was given the opportunity to test himself against the full-strength batting line-up.

Australian XI 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Simon Katich, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Adam Gilchrist, 8 Jason Gillespie, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11 Stuart MacGill.