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Steve Smith is set to be picked ahead of Dave Warner for the first Ashes Test. Source: Andrew Yates / Getty Images
STEVE Smith appears to have beaten Dave Warner for Australia's middle order batting post.
Smith's innings of 68* and 43 in the tour game against Worcester seem to have won over the selectors, who were mulling over whether to reinstate Warner directly after his suspension.
Smith is set to join a batting order that includes Shane Watson and Chris Rogers as openers.
Ed Cowan and Phillip Hughes look to be duelling for the No.3 spot. Cowan is considered a slight favourite given the nature of the Trent Bridge pitch and the fact he has been playing with Nottinghamshire for most of the county season.
Cowan has scored 619 first class runs at 41.26 in England this season.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Peter Siddle appears to have retained his place in the Australian team.
While doubts surrounded Siddle after poor lead-up form his absence from an optional training session is a strong pointer to his inclusion in the team.
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Siddle and fellow pacemen James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc were the only players who did not train.
It is also significant that the trio were rested from the last warm-up match, a four-day game against Worcester.
In recent years the fast bowlers chosen in the Test XI have almost never trained the day before the match.
Australia is refusing to release their side to keep England guessing.
Captain Michael Clarke confirmed at his pre-match press conference that all the players had been told so they could prepare for the Test if they were playing.
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The batting order following the earlier announcement of Shane Watson and Chris Rogers as opening batsmen is expected to be Ed Cowan, Clarke, Phil Hughes, David Warner and in-form wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Usman Khawaja appears out of contention after missing the Worcester match.
Warner has been pencilled in at number six for some time and Clarke has continued to talk up the explosive left hander despite his month-long suspension ruining the chance of any lead-up cricket before the Ashes.
The only question is whether the selectors will hold their nerve on Warner or opt for Steve Smith, who played well against Worcester for 68 not out and offers a more comfortable right-handed option against the off-spin of Graeme Swann.
Despite taking just four wickets in three first-class matches with Australia A and Australia, and no more than one in an innings, Siddle has received strong support from the team hierarchy this week.
Vice-captain Haddin pointed strongly to Siddle's high ranking. He sits fifth on the International Cricket Council's official table, with captain Michael Clarke rated fifth among the batsmen.
Siddle, 28, is by far Australia's most experienced bowler and is the only one among the six pacemen and spinner Nathan Lyon to have previously tour England.
Moreover, Siddle has been a clear leader of Australia's attack since having his game refined by then bowling coach Craig McDermott during the tour of Sri Lanka almost two years ago.
In that time Siddle and Lyon are by far Australia's most successful bowlers with 76 wickets each.
Likely Australian team: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke (c), Phil Hughes, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.
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