England’s fielding horrors returned on Tuesday as their three-day practice match with New South Wales petered out to a tame draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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, NSW were 194 for six in their second innings after dismissing England for 349 to hold a six-run innings lead.
Michael Clarke, looking to return to the Australian team, scored 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.
”We’re really happy with the way it went,” Anderson said.
”Everyone’s had a decent run-out against very strong opposition.
”The next game against South Australia will build up the intensity and I’ll look to get a few more overs bowled.
”I am concentrating on getting some bowling rhythm and if I get selected for the first Test then that’s great.”
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 off a total of 25 overs.
The spinners Panesar (0-38 off 13 overs) and Ashley Giles (1-32 off 8 overs) got useful workouts as they vie for the one spinner’s spot in the England Test team for Brisbane.
No result was expected from the practice match with England seeking to play 14 of their 16 players to gain maximum preparation time, so as a result the match did not carry official first-class status.
NSW, who declared at 355 for nine in their first innings, held an overall lead of 124 runs after England were dismissed before lunch for 349.
Pietersen completed his century in England’s first innings after going to stumps on Monday unbeaten on 80, while Australian Test aspirant Stuart Clark finished with 3-50 off 17 overs. Pietersen advanced down the wicket to swing bowler Nathan Bracken and holed out to Brett Lee at deep mid-on. He cracked 18 boundaries and two sixes off 171 balls.
Flintoff was bowled off an inside-edge giving Clark his third wicket of the innings. – Sapa-AFP