Cowan out to cement his spot

Ed Cowan says Australia needs a steady hand at the top of the order and the Australia A tour of England this month is his chance to prove he's the man for the job.

Cowan failed to cement his place as Australia's opening batsman in seven Tests last summer and was denied a central contract when selectors announced their 17-man list last month.

But the 30-year-old left-hander has the opportunity to prove them wrong when he leads the Australia A party in three-day games against Derbyshire and Durham before four-day matches against England Lions at Old Trafford and Edgbaston.

"I am backing myself to make it a lasting partnership with Dave Warner at the top of the order," Cowan said ahead of Australia A's match against Derbyshire starting July 27.

"I play my best cricket when I'm batting for time and that team really needs someone at the top of the order. There are shot-makers from two to six, so having someone to soak up some balls and allow the middle order to play some shots I think is a really important role.

"At the same time that role is not only to blunt the new ball, but go on and score a match-winning innings. I am feeling at ease with Test cricket. I feel like I can not only contribute but really dominate," he said.

Cowan averaged 29.83 in the five-day game against India and West Indies after debuting in the Boxing Day Test.

His omission from Cricket Australia's trimmed-down contract list announced in June was seen by many as a tough call given its new focus on Test players, but Cowan saw his exclusion coming.

"I have had an opportunity to cement my spot at the top of the order and I probably haven't scored the runs that I probably should have," the Tasmanian said.

"I am my own harshest critic in a sense. I know that I haven't produced the results I know I can. But I look forward to the challenge of doing that.

"At the same time I think it is great for Australian cricket that it is going to be so competitive for contracts going forward.

"I think we have seen in the past with too many contracts, guys are earning contracts and then not playing through an entire year," Cowan said.

With Australian batsmen enduring a torrid time during their recent 4-0 thrashing in the one-day international series against England, there could be places up for grabs when Michael Clarke's team return for the Ashes next year.

The Australia-A tour shapes as the perfect dress rehearsal for the likes of Cowan, Peter Forrest and George Bailey, who are not part of the national one-day squad set to tour Pakistan.

Tim Paine, overtaken by Matthew Wade as the main challenger to Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, will also be on the plane after a year out with a finger injury.

"It's going to be a great opportunity in English conditions a year out from the Ashes to really put your name up and say I can play over here. I am fortunate enough to play most of my cricket in Hobart, which is very similar to England," Cowan said.

"It's a strange schedule. Nine months between Tests hasn't happened for a while so to play some cricket and have the opportunity to go out and score some runs is something we are looking forward to.

"It's not only a great opportunity for me, but also Peter Forrest and George Bailey to really put their name up in lights."