SYDNEY, Oct 23: Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill will miss the chance to press for Ashes selection after his appeal against a two-week ban for disorderly and improper conduct was dismissed here late Monday.

As a result, MacGill will be unavailable for his state team New South Wales who play Queensland in a four-day game this week at Brisbane's Gabba - the venue for the opening Test of the Ashes series against England on November 23.

This week's Gabba match was seen as a crucial audition for Ashes selection.

MacGill was suspended until November 2 for breaching the code of conduct after a verbal clash with an umpire at a Sydney club game a week ago.

It's unlikely that Australia will take two leg-spinners into the opening Ashes Test with Shane Warne locking up the spinner's role on a pitch, normally conducive to swing and seam bowling.—AFP