Day 1: Australians 349/7
Not a great start, with a few in the top order going cheaply. Hughes batted how I expect him to go during the Test matches – chasing hard, going for quick runs, and occasionally losing the fight as a result. But that’s ok, because I think more often than not his style will come off. My one concern is Captain Ponting, who made just 8. He needs runs to get him into the groove again. However, the Aussies recovered thanks to their lower order. Brett Lee showed he can bat, and if his bowling is good enough to get him in to the XI for the First Test, I reckon he could add some pretty valuable runs.
“I’ve heard this pitch compares a lot to Cardiff, although obviously it will be a different stage with a lot more pressure for the Test.
“It was good to spend some time out there. We’ve been going pretty hard in the nets, but it is good just to see where you’re at in the middle and things felt okay.
“The main point of this game was blowing some of the cobwebs out and part of the process towards stepping out for day one at Cardiff.
- Brad Haddin
Day 2: Sussex 311 … Australians 18/0
All of the Aussie quicks had a good day at the office, with Lee and Clark leading the way and Peter Siddle close behind. Hauritz was disappointing, and I can’t see him making the Test team.
If these warm-up matches will decide who’s bowling for Australia in Cardiff, then at the moment I’d be looking at Johnson, Lee, Clark, and Siddle. I just hope they can figure out how to stop bowling so many no-balls. That white line is there for a reason, fellas!
Day 3: Australians 379/7 dec.
All of the Australian batsmen other than Marcus North have had a good amount of batting practise, which is great to see. Michael Clarke looks terrific, and should be the rock of the Aussie middle order throughout the 2009 Ashes. About the only concern is that 4 Australian wickets went to the spinners, although it was apparently a real turner of a pitch so Hauritz and the other part-time spinners for Australia could have a good day out tomorrow.
Day 4: Sussex 373/7
Result: Match drawn
The Sussex batsmen played well and came surprisingly close to victory, and the Aussie bowlers were flat. I’m a little disappointed, but it is the opening match of the tour and you’ve got to expect a bit of rustiness. That’s what tour matches are for, after all. I mean, look at what England did in their opening tour match of the 2006/07 Ashes – they lost by 166 runs to the Prime Minister’s XI. Ok, so they went on to lose the Ashes 5-0, so that’s not a good example. Alright, how about this – the second game of Australia’s 2001 Ashes tour was against Middlesex at Lord’s, and Australia lost that game but went on to comfortably win the Ashes. So there. A draw against Sussex, that at times featured some ordinary performances, is nothing to be concerned about. What matters is the result at Cardiff.
