The 1st Test at Trent Bridge kicks off on July 10th & both sides are into their final preparation for the battles to come.
Despite all the chaos in the camp the Australians have had more suitable preparation with only a few Test players involved in the Champions Trophy,many more have been playing 4 day cricket with Australia A & they have now joined up with the rest of the Test Squad for 2 warm-up games.
England have just one 4 day match against Essex starting on Sunday,the first proper cricket since the 3rd Test against New Zealand at the end of May.
England's one & only warm-up match against Essex started yesterday
None of the top order passed 50 as they fell to 212-7,before an 8th wicket stand of116 between Bresnan 55 not out & Swann 62 not out,saw them recover to 328-7
Eventful warm-up match for England.Swamm causes an injury scare after he makes 94 on day 2,when Tymal Mills who has a job getting into the Essex 1st team, clocked up 94 mph the fastest English qualified bowler by a mile.Swann's X-ray on his arm showed no break & he bowled today when Mills hit him for 2 sixes on the bounce before he took his wicket.Bresnan who was hit in the grill yesterday on the way to his first 1st Class hundred since 2007,which was on the same ground when he was playing for England Lions.The twist is Bresnan's ton no longer counts as 3 Essex bowlers,including Mills went down with injuries & Rankin & Topley were allowed as replacement bowlers,but makes the fixture no longer 1st class.
A good run out fof Swann who was named man of the match as he took 5-68 today to go with his 94 as England recorded a 228 run victory.Onions bowled well in his 2nd spell & finished with 4-43,Essex were dismissed for 186 with last nan Mills unable to bat,Earlier England declared on 279-4.
Australia are getting some useful practice with Clarke scoring a hundred in the tour match against Worcestershire.
England win the toss & ellect to bat,Finn plays.
Australia spring the first surprise by awardind a debut cap to 19 year old spinner Ashton Agar.
England-Cook,Root,Trott,Pietersen,Bell,Bairstow,Prior,Broad,Swann,Finn,Anderson
Australia-Watson,Rogers,Cowan,Clarke,Hughes,Smith,Haddin,Siddle,Pattinson,Stark,Agar
That's a major surprise. Leftarmer Agar has been selected to play after a career so far of only 10 first class matches and after offspinner Nathan Lyon took 9 wickets in his last Test.
England 50-1 after 15 overs.Cook out for 13 edging to Haddin off the bowling of Pattinson.
England looked a a decent position on 98-2 at lunch,but Australia have won the 2nd season,England have fallen to 185-6.Siddle has taken 5-50.
It got worse before it got better.England 215 all out in 59 overs,Australia closed on 75-4 with 2 wickets each from Finn & Anderson.Broad was struck on the shoulder while batting & was unable to field.A combination of poor batting & the swinging ball led to 14 wickets falling in the day.The forcast is better for the rest of the match with the floodlights on for most of the day.Australia bat deep & much will depend on Broads availability to bowl if England are going to keep the game close.