Oz pace squad to miss domestic games in favour of CA's Ashes-preparatory programs

Australian pace bowlers Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus are reportedly set to miss next week's round of domestic games in order to complete programs drawn up by Cricket Australia in preparation to take on Alastair Cook's England during the winter Ashes.

Instead of sweating it out in the middle in the Sheffield Shield week, the quartet of pace bowlers will take part in the CA programs, which is a possible indication that they will be named in Australia's squad for the first Test.

According o the Sydney Morning Herald, the move is part of CA's plan of keeping their leading fast bowlers fresh for a packed international and domestic schedule during the first half of the summer.

The report mentioned that CA's depth of fast bowling talent would be further tested should any more fast bowlers break down given that Australia has already lost young guns Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, adding that if it happens, then the selectors may be forced to rely on uncapped Nathan Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood.

The plan to rest Australia's premier pacemen from a round of Shield is being supported by the states, the report added.