Southampton: David Warner has recorded the first half-century of Australia's intra-squad match at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl as James Pattinson and Pat Cummins continued their exceptional form ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston next week.
In what was Warner's first red-ball game against serious opposition since the infamous Cape Town Test 16 months ago, he withstood the onslaught of an at-times unplayable Pattinson as the bowlers held the upper hand again on the second day of the practice game.
After managing only four in the first innings, it was a handy outing for the former Test vice-captain, who got into his stride when Pattinson was finally pulled from the attack after a brilliant 10-over spell that gave him match figures 3-31 from 20 overs.
Warner played in the Sydney first-grade competition during his 12-month ban over the Newlands ball tampering scandal but otherwise had not played a red-ball game since South Africa before this week.
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A mis-timed pull shot off the bowling of Chris Tremain eventually brought about an end to his knock on 58 but he departed with the highest individual contribution of a low-scoring affair in which 25 wickets have fallen in five sessions.
David Warner has recorded a half-century in his first red-ball game since the infamous Cape Town Test.Credit:AP
Elsewhere, other batsmen with their eyes on a place in the Ashes series struggled. Travis Head, expected to figure at No.5 in the first Test, followed a score of one in the first innings with a third-ball duck when he was lbw to Mitchell Marsh, while squad aspirant Kurtis Patterson, who made two on Tuesday, was trapped on the pads by Tremain also without troubling the scorer.
A sensational Pattinson, who will be awfully hard to leave out at Edgbaston, had the measure of Warner's opening partner Marcus Harris, who edged him to Joe Burns in the slips on 15, and Marnus Labuschagne, who was judged leg-before on six.
Travis Head had a less-than-impressive showing.Credit:AAP
Cummins had earlier continued his fine tune-up for the first Test, collecting enviable figures of 5-24 as the Hick XII were bowled out for 120 in their first innings in response to the Haddin XII's 105. Veteran Peter Siddle has also been superb and finished with 4-31 for the Haddin XII.
Cummins and Pattinson will be licking their lips at the prospect of a crack at England's top order.
If Australia have batting concerns before the first Test, starting next Thursday, then they are not alone.
Ireland's Tim Murtagh celebrates yet another wicket at Lord's.CreditRead More – Source
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