Ed Cowan sent a message to Australia’s selectors as the opener marked his County Championship debut for Gloucestershire with a century on the second day against Essex at Cheltenham on Thursday. 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 and Cowan underlined his credentials with an innings of 103 to help Gloucestershire reach 284 for four in this Second Division clash. Cowan was denied a central contract when Australian selectors announced their 17-man list last month, but he looks determined to prove them wrong and the 30-year-old Tasmania left-hander will have another chance to impress when he leads the A team against the England Lions next month. Cowan batted for five-and-a-half hours on a tricky pitch, facing 268 balls including a six and 12 fours, and shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 104 with New Zealand’s Hamish Marshall.
