Captain Michael Clarke is confident Australia will have found just the right balance by the time his side face England for the Ashes opener in Cardiff on July 8.

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Australia head to Chelmsford for their warm-up match with Essex from tomorrow having enjoyed a productive four-day game against Kent in Canterbury.

The likes of opener Shaun Marsh and leading batsman Steve Smith both made hundreds, as did Mitchell Marsh, while there were also useful knocks for Chris Rogers and Shane Watson.

With the ball, veteran quick Mitchell Johnson staked his claim with four wickets in the first innings, while seamer Ryan Harris also grabbed a couple.

Coach Darren Lehmann has again switched the XI around for the trip to Essex, admitting he had the “rough line-up” already in mind for the first Test at Sophia Gardens.

Australia have not won a series on English soil since 2001, but Clarke is confident the team will be just set when they walk out in Cardiff.

“There was a lot of positives that came out of the (Kent) game. First thing, we won, and that was really important for us as a team, to get out and get a first win in the UK,” Clarke said.

“Individually guys got what they needed as well. It is a good start and now we have the opportunity to play against Essex, hopefully with the same result.

“We are trying to work that perfect balance as a team leading up to that first Test, where I have always believed tour games are important to play to win to get some momentum and confidence, and then to get individuals a bat, for them to have a bowl. So you will have seen us change our batting order in the second innings, but our result was still what we wanted.”

Clarke needs no reminding of what is at stake over the eagerly anticipated five-match series this summer.

“It is a really exciting part of what comes with Ashes cricket; the build-up, the public anticipation. I think that’s great for any series,” he said. “Being an Australian player or an English player, Ashes at home or away, that’s a big part of the package.”