PAUL Grayson says Essex’s players have a chance to grab the headlines when they take on Australia this morning.

The Aussies begin their final warm-up match ahead of the Ashes at the Essex County Ground in front of what is expected to be a packed crowd.

And having eased past Essex’s Division Two fellows Kent last week, Australia are keen to give some of their star names some final practice before beginning at Cardiff next Wednesday.

However, head coach Grayson says Essex will be fielding a strong line-up and wants the players to make a name for themselves against the best in the business.

“It is a real coup having the Australians come to play us and is something we are really excited about,” said the 44-year-old.

“They are the number one side in world cricket at the moment and they are looking to be in the best possible shape ahead of the Ashes so they will be extremely focused.

“The lads know all about Australia having watched them on TV and we know what a challenge they will pose. It is a slightly more relaxed game for us and hopefully the boys will do well with that in mind.”

Grayson cast his mind back to 2005, when the youthful paring of Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara scored a double hundred and 135 respectively against the Aussies. Both have gone onto forge successful international careers, and Grayson said now it is someone else’s turn.

“Alastair and Ravi did brilliantly in 2005 and really made names for themselves. This could be the making of someone else.

“It is a great chance for them to show what they can do. We have players who want to play for England and be selected for the England Performance Programme so they all want to do well.”

Essex have been in good form recently, losing only once in June, and winning seven of their matches ahead of the encounter.

And Grayson also said he was looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd, with thousands expected for the first three days of the test, with tickets for the fourth day not yet on sale.

“We are in good form,” he said. “We have some players in great form at the moment and although some of them will be rested for this game as we have a game against Lancashire on Sunday. But it will still be a strong team and we are looking to put a good show on.

“We have had good support in the four-day game this year and it will be the same again this week. It is not every day the Australians come to town so it should be a good atmosphere.”