Langer indicates Australia A performances will influence Ashes selections

The Aussies are going to delay the announcing of their Ashes squad until after the World Cup in June, with an Australia A tour of the UK looking set to take place while the tournament goes on...

Australia head coach Justin Langer has revealed that performances during an Australia A tour of the UK will shape their squad for the Ashes.

With the World Cup happening in June, Australia will delay announcing their squad for the Ashes, which starts on August 1, until July.

"We probably won’t pick the final Ashes squad until quite late," Langer said.

"I hope I’m not talking out of school with the other selectors, but I can’t see us picking the Ashes (squad) before the Australia A tour, for example.

"Maybe halfway through, or three quarters of the way through (the A tour).

^{Australia will not announce their Ashes squad until after the World Cup}

"It would be really good opportunities for the guys who are picked for Australia A, while the World Cup is on, to put their hand up."

The dates of the tour have not yet been finalised, but it looks likely to happen in late June during the World Cup, with the side staying on to play a match against the Australia Test side.

"Probably the Ashes has got to be 15 or 16 players," he added.

"We've got a really good opportunity through Australia A and the last four Sheffield Shield rounds played with the Dukes ball, and a Shield final.

"So we’ll get a pretty good indication of who is up and running, and we’ll get the opportunity to see the Australia A tour."

JUSTIN LANGER OR DAVID BRENT? TAKE OUR QUIZ