New South Wales, England XI at Sydney
Anderson & Clarke tune up in draw

Sydney—James Anderson produced an important spell ahead of the first Test while Michael Clarke made a final push for Australian selection in the drawn tour game at the SCG. On a day that was little more than glorified practice, Clarke reached his second half-century of the game, Anderson was on a hat-trick in the final session and New South Wales were 6 for 194 when play ended 30 minutes early.
While Anderson will line up in Brisbane next week, Clarke is battling with Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds for the No. 6 spot, but it is hard to know what David Boon, the selector on duty, made of his efforts. Clarke was reprieved by a missed stumping from Geraint Jones in the over after tea and he was dismissed for 68 when bowled by Ashley Giles.
Simon Katich retired after the second session on 55 to give his young team-mates a bat in a match that was stripped of its first-class status when England got their wish to use 14 players. The move backfired as Anderson quickly ran through Aaron O’Brien (2) and Daniel Smith (0) in consecutive balls and he also picked up Moises Henriques for 12. Anderson finished with 3 for 40 while Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles were the other successful bowlers after Phil Jaques began the innings by running himself out in the first over for 4.
England were all out for 359 shortly before lunch as Kevin Pietersen capped an ideal Ashes preparation with a fine 122. Resuming on 80, Pietersen raised his century from 147 balls and struck 18 fours and two sixes, but he could not earn England a first-innings advantage and they finished six runs behind.
Andrew Flintoff also collected a half-century before he fell to Stuart Clark for 62, ending the 116-run partnership with Pietersen. Clark is also hitting form at the right time and finished with 3 for 50 while Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken added two victims each as England lost their final six wickets for 67 runs.
Bracken removed Pietersen when he stepped down the pitch and hit to mid-on, Lee bowled Giles and McGrath knocked over Jones. Stuart MacGill, who was part of New South Wales’ extended team, did not deliver a ball in the match due to an elbow problem, but he will be available for selection in the Test squad.
NSW batted out their second innings from lunch to an agreed stumps on the final day, yet England blotted their Ashes preparations in that time with a couple of fumbles, recalling memories of their shoddy fielding in last year’s 2-1 Ashes series triumph.
When stumps were drawn on Tuesday, NSW were 194 for six in their second innings after dismissing England for 349 to hold a six-run innings lead.
Michael Clarke topscored with 68 before he was bowled by Ashley Giles and skipper Simon Katich retired on his tea score of 55.
England put down 25 catches to Australia’s 17 in last year’s Ashes series victory with wicketkeeper Geraint Jones and Kevin Pietersen the worst offenders — Jones missed seven chances while Pietersen dropped six.
Jones, preferred by team selectors to be the Test wicketkeeper ahead of Chris Read, was at it again on Tuesday missing a stumping when Michael Clarke was 47 in the over after lunch, while Andrew Strauss fumbled a chance at slip before Aaron O’Brien had scored.
Both chances came off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar’s bowling, while James Anderson dropped Simon Katich off Matthew Hoggard when he was on one on his way to 55. Anderson, who has been given the nod by team selectors to play in the opening Test in Brisbane next week instead of Sajid Mahmood, was on a hat-trick at one stage after dismissing O’Brien (2) and Daniel Smith (0), but youngster Moises Henriques saw off the attempt.
Anderson finished England’s best bowler with 3-40 off 10 overs. It was a useful exercise for the tourists as they sought time to acclimatise to the Australian pitch conditions in the countdown to the November 23 Test opener at the Gabba.
Kevin Pietersen scored 122, but more importantly spent 258 minutes’ batting, while skipper Andrew Flintoff compiled 62 in 105 minutes. Alastair Cook looked impressive in his knock of 59 and opener Andrew Strauss put together 50, but there were batting failures for Marcus Trescothick (8), Ian Bell (0) and Paul Collingwood (5).
The bowlers got in lengthy bowling spells under a hot Australian sun, with pace spearhead Steve Harmison taking 3-95 off 20 overs and Anderson taking five match wickets.—Agenciess