Skipper Steve Smith and Cricket Australia's power structure believe Warner will face England but they have opted to bring in Maxwell as a precaution. Maxwell was in contention to claim the number six role in Australia's batting line-up, but the entertaining Victorian lost out to surprise inclusion Shaun Marsh. The 29-year-old has played seven Tests for Australia, scoring a century and 339 runs at an average of 26.07 only. Maxwell, who has played the last four Tests for Australia, was left out of the 13-man squad in Brisbane, with Shaun Marsh preferred at No.6. In the event Warner is a last-minute scratching he would come into the line-up in the middle order and Marsh would join debutant Cameron Bancroft as an opener. The Victorian would be making his home Test debut in the event he was required at the Gabba. Smith, however, believes Warner will be fit to play.

Australia opener David Warner’s neck injury has improved and he is expected to play in the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane, captain Steve Smith said Wednesday. “He’s very confident and he says he’ll be right to go,” Smith told reporters ahead of Thursday’s Ashes opener at the Gabba. ”He’ll be OK. It’s part and parcel of playing cricket. Guys have injuries every now and then and have little niggles. He’s improved a fair bit over the last 24 hours and hopefully he can keep improving and be 100 percent at match time.”

Australia squads for the ashes- David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.