IT was hardly the welcome that the Welsh tourist board had wanted.

A fielding practice session turned into a wet t-shirt competition for the touring Australians yesterday morning after a flash Cardiff downpour that sent players scuttling to the indoor nets to complete their Test warm up.

Glamorgan won't have been too displeased – it gave the chance to show off the superb drainage of their £600,000 outfield after the disaster of last year's ODI with SA – but vice-captain Michael Clarke was unable to get much of a look at the much-talked about wicket.

The hover cover was preventing an inspection of a surface that is expected to turn and expose the Aussies lack of a top-class spinner while allowing England to field two slow bowlers.

"We weren't lucky enough to have much of a look at all at the wicket yesterday because of the weather but today is a pretty important day for us to come and have a look at conditions," said Clarke.

"It will definitely be a big challenge if we face two spinners. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann are both very good bowlers and we will have to be on top of our game against them. But facing spin bowling also gives you the chance to score runs. Our preparation for spin has been spot on.

"Going up against Nathan Hauritz in the nets is perfect preparation for facing Swann and I bowl a little bit in the nets as left-arm orthodox, and while it's nowhere near as good as Monty at least it's coming out of the same hand.

"I think both practice games (against Sussex and England Lions) have given us a pretty good workout with both bat and ball. Our preparation couldn't have been better and our whole squad is in a good position and keen to get started.

"I am certain that is going to be a wonderful series and, while I would like a different result, I hope the way the game is played is similar to 2005."

There are still members of the Press grumbling about an Ashes Test, let alone the first one, being in Wales but the middle-order batsman wasn't quite as miserable.

"I'm happy to be here in Cardiff," said the 28-year-old. "It's a wonderful place to play cricket and I was fortunate enough to do that when I was with Hampshire in 2004.

"All the team is happy to be here and looking forward to the first Test. It doesn't bother me that it's not at Lord's, it's up to the ECB to decide where we start."