PM's XI: Seven internationals named to face New Zealand at Manuka Oval

Retired great Michael Hussey will lead out a side featuring seven players with international experience against World Cup runners-up New Zealand under lights at Manuka Oval on Friday.

The Kiwis wanted a tough encounter to have them battle-hardened ahead of the three-Test series with Australia, and that is exactly what they will get.

Hussey and experienced paceman Peter Siddle will be joined in the PM's XI team by Test hopefuls Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Joe Burns and Ashton Agar.

Former one-day international all-rounder David Hussey joins his brother for one last time, ACT products Ryan Carters and Jason Behrendorff get to perform in front of their home fans, while exciting Queensland fast bowler Mark Steketee is a player of the future.

Canberra's Australian under-19 representative Ben Taylor is 12th man.

Cricket Australia has come under fire for the strength, or lack thereof, of the PM's XI team in recent years, with selections heavily affected by the Big Bash League.

Australia's cancelled tour of Bangladesh opened the door for several of those players to use the PM's XI match as a valuable tune-up ahead of the first Test at the Gabba on November 5.

Cricket Australia's national talent manager, Greg Chappell, said the PM's XI game was a great chance for players to push their case for spots in the Test team.

"Some of them are on the cusp of selection for the first Test, so every opportunity is a good one," Chappell said.

"Very rarely do we have this quality of player available at this time of year.

"What's happened in the last few years is we have given an opportunity to next generation players so that the people of Canberra can say I saw that particular player before anyone else knew about him.

"Generally the international squad is away, so it's been a matter of doing the best we could with what we had."

Chappell said the increased strength of the PM's XI team could be a one-off.

"That will depend on the availability of international players," he said.

"Most years they're not available, so it's going to be hard to match it every year, but when they're available, they'll be involved."

Behrendorff will be making his second straight appearance for the PM's XI.

The 25-year-old left-arm paceman missed the end of last season while he recovered from stress fractures in his back, but has returned to bowling in the Matador Cup with Western Australia.

"A lot of the guys have played international cricket already and it's a very strong squad," Behrendorff said.

"I think we will play a very aggressive brand of cricket and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of taking on New Zealand."

Carters will be making his debut for the PM's XI. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman has not had much opportunity to play for NSW during the Matador Cup with the return of their Australian representatives, but was the Blues' player of the year in the 50-over format last season.

Cricket ACT chief executive Cameron French is expecting a full house for the match given the strength of the PM's XI team.

"We're rapt to have six players with Test experience," French said.

"The quality of the team and the weather forecast looks fantastic, so hopefully the cricket lovers of Canberra will support the fixture."

FRIDAY: PM's XI v New Zealand at Manuka Oval, 2.20pm. Tickets at Ticketek.

PM's XI squad

Cameron Bancroft (WA): Age: 22. Yet to make international debut

Joe Burns (QLD): Age: 26. Tests: 2. ODIs: 6

Usman Khawaja (QLD): Age 28. Tests: 9. ODIs: 3

Adam Voges (WA): Age: 36. Tests: 7. ODIs: 31

Michael Hussey (c, WA): Age: 40. Tests: 79. ODIs: 185

David Hussey (VIC): Age: 38. ODIs: 69

Ryan Carters (wk, ACT/NSW): Age: 25. Yet to make international debut

Ashton Agar (WA): Age: 22. Tests: 2. ODIs: 2

Peter Siddle (VIC): Age: 30. Tests: 57. ODIs: 17

Jason Behrendorff (ACT/WA): Age: 25. Yet to make international debut

Mark Steketee (QLD): Age: 21. Yet to make international debut

Ben Taylor (ACT, 12th man)