Captain Michael Clarke has been named to play in Australia’s opening Ashes tour game against Somerset in Taunton starting on Wednesday.

Clarke hasn’t played a match since the third Test in Mohali in March, when his chronic back injury first flared up.

A recurrence when he arrived in the UK kept him out of the entire Champions Trophy one-day tournament.

However, Clarke’s return provides a timely boost for the Australians who will also be led by coach Darren Lehmann for the first time.

Opener Chris Rogers has been left out of the line-up for the opening match, but is tipped to be a front-runner for the first Test against England at Trent Bridge starting on July 10.

Ed Cowan and Shane Watson are likely to open the batting for Australia in Taunton.

James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle have been picked as the bowling attack for the first hit-out.