Ashes - England Lions hold Australia to draw

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 20:12:00 2009

Australia will head into their first Ashes Test with considerable improvements still needed in certain areas after the final warm-up game with England Lions ended in a draw at New Road.

CRICKET 2009 Australia's Phillip Hughes ducks from a delivery from England Lions' Steve Harmison Cricket - Tour Match - Day Three - England Lions v Australia - New Road - 0

The Lions were set a nominal target of 445 in 60 overs after Marcus North's unbeaten 191 had set up the lunchtime closure and they ended on 162 for four with 14 overs remaining.

The game ended in bizarre fashion with umpire Jeff Evans needing treatment from a paramedic after tumbling to the floor but he was able to eventually walk from the outfield.

It was a good work-out for Ricky Ponting's side and the cricket was intense for the first three days before the tourists opted for batting and bowling practice on the final day rather than to set a challenging declaration.

But Ponting will be aware there as many negatives as pluses to emerge from the four-day fixture.

Opener Phillip Hughes was found wanting against the short ball and twice fell victim to Steve Harmison while Ponting himself will head to Cardiff short of runs after a double failure against the Lions.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz did little to suggest he will be a potential match-winner and part-time slow bowlers North and Michael Clarke may be preferred to fill the role.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson is a near certainty to play but he proved expensive, conceding nearly five runs an over, although he did pick up two wickets with the new ball at the start of the Lions second innings.

The biggest plus was the return to form of Brett Lee who, at 31, is now the senior statesman of the Australian attack.

He demonstrated he has fully recovered from ankle surgery in the winter and used reverse swing to good effect in taking six first innings wickets.

Mike Hussey ended a nine month run without a hundred and added a second innings 50 for good measure while North also found form after managing just 13 runs in his previous three innings.

The Lions can take plenty of credit from their performance in a match which was more competitive than England's meeting with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Harmison made the biggest strides in terms of staking a claim for an Ashes recall although he may have to wait until later in the series as England are contemplating using two spinners at Cardiff.

North and Hussey had taken advantage of the benign pitch to gain further valuable practice before the lunch-time declaration.

North hit 23 fours and one six in his 281-ball innings. He survived one caught and bowled chance when put down by Harmison on 120.

Hussey made an unbeaten 62 before retiring hurt with a sore ankle which he had suffered during the warm-up although it is not a cause for concern.

North and Brad Haddin (25 not out) plundered 73 from 10 overs before the declaration.

Johnson conceded 11 runs in his first over of the Lions second innings but made the first breakthrough when Stephen Moore (16) went for a drive and was caught by Ponting at second slip.

Joe Denly reeled off a series of handsome drives before Johnson struck for the second time when the Kent player on 36 edged through to wicket-keeper Haddin.

He was eventually rested after a spell of 9-2-48-2.

Bell, who had made a golden duck in the first innings, made 20 from 63 balls before flicking at a Hauritz delivery and falling to smart catch at short leg by Simon Katich.

It was only Hauritz's second victim of the tour after match figures of one for 158 against Sussex at Hove and nought for 80 in the first innings against the Lions.

Lee again showed his potency in knocking out Vikram Solanki's leg stump with a swinging delivery.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. My favourite comment on Nathan Hauritz so far comes­ from Ian Chappell, when told that Hauritz was not an­ attacking spinner but a "container".­

    "There's a place for containers"­ Chappell said. "The dockyard".

    From Bobito, on Sun 5 Jul 6:08AM

  2. I would be very surprised if Johnson is not a major­ influence in this series. And not just with the ball.­ There was an article on here the other day comparing­ him to Flintoff. I think it did Johnson a great­ disservice. In my opinion if both remain fit he will­ score more runs and take more wickets in the series­ than the oaf. I think the deciding factor in this­ series will be England's batters. If they overcome­ their huge propensity for gifting their wickets then we­ will have a great series. If not, the Arsetralians will­ likely triumph. Bring it on!

    From nocohere, on Sat 4 Jul 8:32PM

  3. it would be a big mistake to underestimate johnson. the­ fact is he was already guaranteed a spot and was just­ there to get some time in the middle and was probably­ asked not to risk injuring himself (australia are very­ cautious in managing him and our other fast bowlers).­ it wont be the same johnson that fronts up in the­ tests. more of a worry for australia is that some of­ those truly competing for a spot - clarke and haurizt,­ didnt exactly set the world on fire.

    i think its far­ too early to say this is the worst attack in 20 years.­ the fact is that it is an attack which has maybe more­ question marks than many previous ones. many of you­ have seen what clarke and lee are capable of - we are­ just not sure, after so long out of the game and­ plagued with injuries, what they can now deliver.­ forget about us 'biased' aussies - you can ask­ any south african about johnson's class, but we can­ be unsure how he will perform in english conditions and­ with the extra pressure of now being the no 1 strike­ bowler. there are also questions as to whether he can­ control his new found aggression and, most importantly­ of all, his ability to swing the ball into the right­ hander, which till now has been pretty much hit and­ miss.

    as for siddle - he is certainly more than­ ordinary. but he is a windies style mainly­ 'hip-to-waist' bowler with good pace and bounce­ very suited to sth african conditions, where he did­ well. it remains to be seen how effective his style­ will be on slower, lifeless pitches.

    as for the spin­ department - hauritz hasnt performed at international­ level, and even state level for that fact (his record­ is actually quite abysmal). nor does he possess any­ real 'weapons' - which inspired the rushed­ inclusion of shane warne many years back. picking a­ spinner will be on the cards but i see no point in­ picking one that is hardly better than our reserve­ spinners. i dont think anyone would deny that our spin­ attack is exceptionally weak.

    From ??, on Sat 4 Jul 7:28PM

  4. For reference Phillip, the word is "Dobber"­ NOT Dobler, and my statement wasn't nearly as­ idiotic as you claiming that after Brett Lee you had a­ bowling attack that would clean up our batting!!!­ Typical arrogance from an Aussie, anyway only a few­ more days to wait, so we'll see shall we?

    From roy, on Sat 4 Jul 6:51PM

  5. I hope harmison does bowl for the English, lets not­ forget his first deliveries in the opening tests in­ Australia last series, they were that wide they were­ taken by 2nd slip. ROyJohn, another idiotic comment­ suggesting Mitchell Johnson is a medium paced Dobler,­ maybe ask SA Captain Smith if he considers Johnson a­ medium pacer

    From Phillip, on Sat 4 Jul 10:12AM

  6. Looks like Harmy's got himself a rabbit

    From rohan, on Fri 3 Jul 9:22PM

  7. Well done Harmie, you'e exposed Hughes'­ weakness. Seems the lad is afraid of a little chin­ music. This could be fun.

    From Bobito, on Fri 3 Jul 9:15PM

  8. Of course it's the worst attack in the last 20­ years, when a country loses a number of "once in a­ generation" players in quick succession. That­ being said, both sides are not in the form they were 4­ years ago, with Aus a shadow of it's former­ greatness, and England not impressing much either. I­ wouldn't write-off Johnson however, after what he­ did to SA over the Southern summer. Should be a good­ series. Game on!

    From bemused, on Fri 3 Jul 10:36AM

  9. Mitchell Johnson of course - sorry, mate, you're­ just so memorable ........

    From mirandola, on Fri 3 Jul 9:02AM

  10. If you're an England supporter - lets pray that­ Michael Johnson really has replaced Brett Lee as the­ spearhead of the Australian attack ... but I can't­ believe the Aussies would allow us any such luxury.

    From mirandola, on Fri 3 Jul 8:33AM

  11. You obviously are "bemused" if you think that­ a bunch of medium-paced dobbers will do any sort of­ mopping up operation! For the record, this is EASILY­ the WORST bowling attack that the Aussies have sent­ over the water for the last 20yrs at least.....If­ Hauritz is the spearhead of the Aussie "spin­ attack", then god help you!! That said, the­ paucity of decent Aussie bowlers will probably­ contribute to a very competitive series between two­ reasonable (but far from perfect) sides.

    From roy, on Fri 3 Jul 7:36AM

  12. Wow, a convict comment. How predictable. Shame that­ England managed to export all their sporting ability to­ the "convict colony". And all you got left­ with was Eddie the Eagle. At least Aus doesn't have­ to deny ever being a French colony.... (how­ embarrassing)

    To the topic, if Lee continues in this­ form, it will be quite one-sided, with all the other­ bowlers mopping up the rest. Hopefully it will be a­ hard-fought contest like '05. Although the 5-0­ drubbing last time was nice to watch.

    From bemused, on Fri 3 Jul 5:54AM

  13. Jeff Thompson used to bowl to hurt the batsman. I bet­ you aussies didn't moan then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ Convicts the lot of you!!!!!!!!

    From Mark, on Thu 2 Jul 10:10PM

  14. if brett lee falls ill england will win easily he is­ the only bowler australia have since geoff and shane­ have retired there is no way mitchell and the rest have­ a hope in hells chance of picking up any wickets and­ because of that i take england to win the ashes easily

    From georgewebber63, on Thu 2 Jul 9:57PM

  15. if brett lee falls ill england will win easily he is­ the only bowler australia have since geoff and shane­ have retired there is no way mitchell and the rest have­ a hope in hells chance of picking up any wickets and­ because of that i take england to win the ashes easily

    From georgewebber63, on Thu 2 Jul 9:50PM

  16. Brett Lee will be to 2009 what Jason Gillespie was to­ 2005.

    From Bobito, on Thu 2 Jul 9:46PM

  17. Excuse me but the Aussies are past masters of the dirty­ tricks, win at all costs cricket!
    On a brighter note;­ Brett Lee, what a guy!
    Bad news for England this­ i'm afraid!
    Anyway, i'd rather Harmison not get­ picked so he can continue getting wickets for my­ beloved Durham - we're giving you Onions, isn't­ that enough!

    From cameron w, on Thu 2 Jul 8:59PM

  18. It certainly is not cricket..The name of the game is­ bowl at the stumps..not the head..If Harmison does that­ he may actually get a wicket ..I really think he is a­ spent force with little ability.If he continues this­ way the Australian Test team will absolutley demolish­ him...and rightly so...

    From beau, on Thu 2 Jul 11:02AM

  19. Is that what cricket has become? Is it the only way­ Harmison ) can bowl by trying to hurt the batsman.Shame­ on you Harmison and please don't tell me it is part­ of the game - it's not cricket for goodness sake.

    From PIXIE, on Thu 2 Jul 8:16AM
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