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Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting sharpened their blades for next week’s opening Test against Pakistan at Lord’s by easing to centuries in their two-day practice match in Derby.
Hussey (132) and Ponting (116) shook off their red ball rust by picking apart the second-string Derbyshire attack to lift Australia from 3-47 with a 210-run stand on Thursday.
The tourists were dismissed for 436 on stumps on the opening day.
Ponting’s appearance at Derby meant that he has now played at every county ground in England and the skipper looked in good nick during his stay, cracking 14 fours and three sixes.
He had a life on 79, dropped at fine leg by rookie Matt Higginbottom off a hook shot but otherwise looked in control before retiring during the middle session of play.
Following a slow start to the tour in the one-dayers, Hussey has started finding his groove in the past week.
The West Australian, a veteran in English conditions through his many years in county cricket, rattled along at a good clip and smacked 20 runs off one over from spinner Jake Needham.
Hussey hit 15 fours and four sixes before he holed out to the slow bowler in the next over but by that stage of the innings, the Australian camp would have been keen for him to let another batsman in for a hit.
The match is Australia’s only practice fixture before the Lord’s Test starting on Tuesday.
Teenage paceman Atif Sheikh (2-58) earlier shook up the touring side in his second major outing for the county after bowling 14 no-balls on first-class debut against Gloucestershire in May.
This time around the England U/19 bowler was in much better rhythm, trapping opener Shane Watson (5) with his third ball of the day on a glorious summer’s day in the East Midlands.
Simon Katich (22) hopped into the bowling of quick Mark Footitt (3-68) before Sheikh had the opener playing an errant cut shot to point.
Test vice captain Michael Clarke (1) had a brief five-ball stay before having his leg stump knocked out by Footitt as the locals looked like causing their big name opponents some serious blushes.
However Ponting and Hussey comfortably put Australia’s innings back on track in the 12-a-side contest.
Following their departures, Marcus North made 21 before he was bowled trying to sweep Needham.
Steve Smith made a breezy 48 before his expected Test debut while wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine (52no) played a measured hand ahead of his maiden appearance in the baggy green.
Katich said the Australians were keen to get another full day of action on Friday.
“Most of the guys had pretty good stints out there in the middle just getting used to facing red balls again,” he said.
“They have been facing white ones for the last month.
“Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good and we will be able to get a full day in the field and the bowlers will be able to be have a hit out as well.”
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