KEY POINTS:
England finally got their Ashes cricket tour moving in the right direction as their batsmen struck back against a test-strength NSW bowling attack on day two of the tour match in Sydney yesterday.
Andrew Strauss (50) and Alastair Cook (59) made half-centuries at the top of the order, Kevin Pietersen (80 not out) closed in on a fine century and captain Andrew Flintoff (48 not out) struck the ball sweetly in England's total of 256 for four.
The visitors will aim to overhaul NSW's 355 for nine declared today before moving on to Adelaide, where they will have their final hit-out, against South Australia, before the first ashes test.
The batting was a great relief for England, which faced the prospect of having a vital day of match practice washed out by rain -- only 25 deliveries were bowled in the first session.
Not everything went the tourists' way, as opener Marcus Trescothick (eight) missed out again after a failure in the tour opener in Canberra, and Ian Bell (duck) lasted only two balls in his first innings of the tour.
Fast bowler Steve Harmison also sent down a string of deliveries either wide of off-stump or down the legside, but did claim three for 95.
NSW had a couple of headaches of their own, as Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken at times struggled for impact on an increasingly lifeless wicket, while legspinner Stuart MacGill did not bowl at all because of an elbow problem.
MacGill had a painkilling injection to treat an old elbow injury in his bowling arm, which will prevent him from bowling this match.
NSW officials were confident by having the shot yesterday, the 35-year-old would recover in time to bowl for Australia in the first test in Brisbane, which starts November 23, if he is selected on Thursday.
Lee had Trescothick chopping on but despite a hostile early spell, finished with the unflattering figures of one for 54 from 10 overs, while McGrath (1-41) maintained a fairly good line throughout and had Cook LBW in the last session.
Clark removed Strauss and Bell in three deliveries to claim two for 34 and keep the battle for the pace spot behind Lee and McGrath in Brisbane tight.
Pietersen said it was vital England had come through a searching test against one of the world's best domestic attacks, especially given the dearth of cricket days in the lead-up to its Ashes defence.
"They (NSW's Australian bowlers) wanted to get mileage and we wanted to get runs, so it was a good test," he said.
"But we've only got three innings - this one and two in Adelaide before Brisbane - so it was important for the guys to get in and try to make a few.
"That's the toughest warm-up game I've played in for England, especially against four bowlers - two definites and two strong possibilities who could play against us (in Brisbane) - so it was good fun."
Clark is locked in a battle against Bracken, Queenslander Mitchell Johnson and South Australian Shaun Tait to play at the Gabba.
Although he could justify claims to head that queue given his 20 wickets at 15.85 in South Africa this year, he knew he had to keep performing to beat a strong field.
"The selectors have got to set up a team they think will get 20 wickets," Clark said.
"I hope what I did in South Africa helped, but I don't think it's my god-given right to be a walk-up start."
- AAP
