Wade to captain Aus in opening tour game vs BP XI

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will lead the touring Australian side in a two-day game against the Board President's XI in Chennai on Tuesday.

"I did half a Shield game or whatever for the Vics. Apart from that, that's it," Wade was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.

"The bigger guns aren't here as yet so we've only got 11 to pick from tomorrow."

Wade said he was keen to give his pace bowlers Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird plenty of work in the match.

A key aspect of the game will be the performances of allrounders Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques as they do battle for a spot in the side for the first Test against India in Chennai on February 22.

Henriques and the big-hitting Maxwell are both uncapped at Test level.

Specialist spinner Nathan Lyon will also be keen to impress, with the squad's other frontline slow bowler Xavier Doherty expected to play in Australia's second warm-up game which is a three-day match starting on February 16.

"I'd suggest Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith will bowl plenty of overs in the next few trial games," Wade said.

Western Australia's 19-year-old left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who has played two first-class games, will be part of Australia's side for the two-day match and will act as a net bowler as part of the touring team's Test-series preparations.

Squad: Matthew Wade (capt), Ed Cowan, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Ashton Agar.

Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images