Fast bowler Jason Gillespie admits he's nervous as he waits for the Australian selectors to finalise the team for the first cricket Test against England, at Lord's.

Gillespie, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz are competing for two bowling spots alongside Glenn McGrath in the XI for the Ashes opener, starting Thursday.

Lee is a strong tip to return after almost 19 months out of the Test team, and if he does, Gillespie and Kasprowicz will be aiming for the final spot as the third seamer.

Gillespie struggled through the early one-day matches of the tour, but was hopeful the selectors would consider his form over the past three years, particularly when in new ball partnership with McGrath.

"I know during the one-dayers I probably didn't bowl as well as I would have liked, but the one-dayers have finished now and Test cricket and one-day cricket are completely different games," the South Australian said.

"It's always exciting - nervous and exciting - before a Test match to find out whether you're playing or not, and this one will be no different I suppose."

Gillespie, who is equal-fourth with Richie Benaud on Australia's list of Test wicket-takers with 248 scalps, said his self-belief had not wavered too much during his early tour woes.

"I wouldn't have thought so, no," he said.

"You do go through phases where you probably don't bowl as well as you'd like and other times you're bowling really well and not getting the rewards or whatever.

"You just go with it and you know you keep believing in your preparation and your skills and you should be fine."

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