Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Aussies eye final warm-up boost

England Lions v Australia
Venue: New Road Date: 1-4 July Start: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live scorecard and match report on the BBC Sport website

Ricky Ponting
Ponting hopes his side can kick on ahead of the first Test in Cardiff

Australia will complete their Ashes preparations against England Lions from Wednesday, knowing their performance needs a step up in quality.

The tourists could only draw against Sussex last week and face a four-day match against a Lions side boasting the likes of Ian Bell and Steve Harmison.

And Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting said: "It is a big step for us from last week, there is no doubt about that.

"With it being the last game before the Test, the intensity needs to lift up."

Australia face England at Cardiff in the first Ashes Test of the summer from 8 July - and places are still up for grabs in the starting XI.

While the likes of Philip Hughes, Simon Katich, Ponting, Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke enjoyed valuable batting time at Hove, Marcus North failed to impress as he looks to hold onto his number six spot.

And, with the ball, spinner Nathan Hauritz took just one wicket from 38 overs, going for 158 runs, while Brett Lee and Stuart Clark will be looking to impress as Australia assess their pace bowling options.

Those three are all in the side, along with another paceman in Mitchell Johnson, with fellow seamers Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus rested.

606: DEBATE
How will Australia fare this summer?

Ponting admitted: "There are absolutely no certainties for the first Test right at the moment.

"We are still a week away from that first Test match and a lot can happen in that period of time in international cricket."

He added: "It is good to have this calibre of opposition as our last game. You look at their bowling attack and their quicks have all played international cricket.

"It will be really good preparation for us but, on the flip side of that, it gives those guys a really good chance to impress the England selectors as well so all in all it should be a really good game of cricket."

Meanwhile, all-rounder Shane Watson's planned return after a thigh problem was delayed by the rain at New Road on Tuesday.

Ponting said: "He was going to bat until it started to rain. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to get in the nets. The whole plan was for him to bat today.

"He's not playing in the game but he seems to be coming on well enough to get into the nets so that is a good sign for us.

Ian Bell
It is Australia's last opportunity before Cardiff and we expect them to come out as if it is a Test match.

Ian Bell

"How far is he from bowling? I don't know. Obviously, Tuesday was his first step of getting back into some cricket on the batting side of things."

Bell, meanwhile, has revealed both his and Harmison's determination to regain their England spots for the Ashes battle - starting with impressing against Australia for the Lions.

"We are both in good form in county cricket, and this game for the Lions is another opportunity to show much we want to get back into an England shirt," said the Warwickshire batsman.

"It is Australia's last opportunity before Cardiff and we expect them to come out as if it is a Test match.

"That is the kind of preparation we would go into when on tour so I fully expect they are looking for a really tough match and, with the side we have got at the minute, everyone is in pretty good form. That is why they have been picked.

"Can we stop them getting momentum? I don't think we can worry too much about what they are going to do. We know an Australian team are always going to come out and play aggressive cricket.

"These guys in this side will go into the game with a lot of confidence and not worrying too much about it being Australia and just playing the way they have done the last few months."

England Lions: I Bell (captain) (Warwickshire), T Bresnan (Yorkshire), J Denly (Kent), S Davies (wk) (Worcestershire), S Harmison (Durham), S Mahmood (Lancashire), S Moore (Worcestershire), E Morgan (Middlesex), G Onions (Durham), A Rashid (Yorkshire), V Solanki (Worcestershire).

Australia: S Katich, P Hughes, R Ponting (capt), M Hussey, M Clarke, M North, B Haddin (wkt), M Johnson, B Lee, N Hauritz, S Clark.

ะพ 8:28 AM

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