Mason Crane has retained his place in England's team for their last warm-up match before the Ashes.

The Hampshire leg-spinner will play alongside England off-spinner Moeen Ali for the first time during the four-day friendly against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville, Queensland.

England captain Joe Root said: "Mason's played very well in the first two games and deserves the opportunity to play in this one.

"With Moeen coming back he provides extra support in the spin department and it's a chance for them to trial as a partnership because they haven't played together before.

"It will be a good gauge of what it will be like if we were to play two spinners at any time."

Crane, who played for New South Wales in the Sheffield after impressing in grade competition last winter, took 2-75 against Western Australia ten days ago and 3-105 in Adelaide as England beat a Cricket Australia XI by 192 runs at the weekend.

If he makes his Test debut alongside Moeen Ali at The Gabba next week, it will be the first time England have selected two frontline spinners in the opening match of an Ashes series for 31 years.

And only two England teams have included two specialist twirlers in overseas Ashes Tests.

Since John Emburey and Phil Edmonds spun Australia to a series defeat in 1986/87, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar shared three wickets as England lost the second Test by 208 runs in Adelaide four years ago.

And Phil Tufnell and Eddie Hemmings took 12 wickets between them as England drew in Sydney in January 1991.

With Jake Ball injured and James Anderson unwell, Moeen is one of two changes made by England.

Stuart Broad has been recalled, while Hampshire's James Vince has retained his place in an unchanged top six.

England: Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root, Malan, Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Woakes, Overton, Broad, Crane.