England will face another major challenge in their final warm-up match before the start of the Ashes series, with Queensland naming a virtually full-strength line-up for the three-day game starting on Saturday.
Having almost overcome a strong Western Australia line-up at the WACA, falling just five runs short of chasing a victory target of 135 in 20 overs, the tourists were travelling to Brisbane today to complete preparations for the first Test at the Gabba on November 7.
But they will find there is no let-up in the intensity of the opposition, with Queensland naming a line-up including five players with international experience and several others with knowledge of English county cricket.
Captained by Jimmy Maher, their line-up also includes prolific batsman Stuart Law, all-rounder Andrew Symonds, fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz - all of whom have played international cricket for Australia.
Queensland have also picked highly-rated fast bowler Ashley Noffke, rated by many as the long-term replacement for Glenn McGrath in the Australian Test team, who enjoyed two guest stints for Middlesex last summer.
Batsman Martin Love was Durham's overseas player last season.
But neither ex-Hampshire star Matthew Hayden or fast bowler Andy Bichel, both of whom have been named in Australia's squad for the first Test, have decided to play against the tourists and instead have elected for a rest after a hard Test series against Pakistan in Sharjah.
England's line-up should be equally interesting, with the selectors facing a dilemma over whether to give players much-needed match practice or try and field as close as possible to their intended first Test line-up.
The tourists are hopeful Michael Vaughan will have made a complete recovery from his knee operation at the end of the season to make his first appearance of the tour.
Simon Jones is equally keen to play after his five-wicket haul against Western Australia, despite it being his first real run-out since suffering a side strain on his Test debut last July.
Spearhead Darren Gough is also improving steadily from his lengthy lay-off with knee trouble and fielded for part of yesterday's draw with WA. He is expected to step up his programme with another net at Brisbane tomorrow.
Queensland team to face England (from): JP Maher (capt), BP Nash, ML Love, SG Law, A Symonds, LA Carseldine, WA Seccombe (wkt), AA Noffke, MS Kasprowicz, NM Hauritz, JH Dawes, DR MacKenzie.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article