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Anderson, Swann fit for opener

Perth - Bowlers James Anderson and Graeme Swann have overcome injuries to be included in a strong lineup for the opening match of England's Ashes cricket tour to Australia, a three-dayer against Western Australia state starting Friday.

Paceman Anderson has been troubled by a rib injury and off-spinner Swann by a sore thumb, but both have been passed fit to be included in England's 13-man squad for the match.

Test captain Andrew Strauss, who will lead an England team near full strength, said it was important for the tourists to quickly get into test mode.

"The last thing we want to do is approach these matches like warm-up games," Strauss said. "If you use that sort of attitude, you're always going to come unstuck.

"Preparation-wise, we want it as close to a test match as possible ... and go out to win them. That's the key - We want to achieve some winning momentum, good form and some good clinical cricket."

Strauss said England could expect stiff opposition in its warmup matches ahead of the first Ashes test starting Nov. 25 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

"In Australia, you generally come up against a good side who are very keen and intent to prove a point," he said. "We don't expect anything different from two good state sides and then Australia A, who should be very competitive, especially in conditions they are very comfortable in."

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alistair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Chris Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Eoin Morgan, Chris Tremlett (12th, 13th men TBC)

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