Tour match, Derby (day two of two, close):
Australia 436 drew with Derbyshire 235-5
Match scorecard

Paine is set for his Test debut because of Brad Haddin's injury

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine does not believe Australia will lack sharpness going into the start of their two-Test series against Pakistan next week.

Australia only managed to draw their two-day match against Derbyshire on Friday, with some of their bowlers looking off form.

"It wouldn't have just been these two days," Paine said.

"The blokes would have been doing a lot of work in Australia and the guys have been over here on the one-day tour."

Paine is in line to make his Test debut next week, having been called into the squad because of Brad Haddin's injury.

Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers, who played one Test for Australia in 2008, was the star of the day for the county side against his former team-mates.

He made 93 after adding 147 for the first wicket with Wayne Madsen (58).

Both were caught behind off Mitchell Johnson (2-17), who was looking to prove his fitness ahead of next week's first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

Derbyshire finished on 235-5 in reply to Australia's 436 all out.

In a 12-a-side game, the Aussies were able to give all of their bowlers a work-out, especially Johnson - who missed the one-day series against England with an infected elbow - and fellow seamer Ben Hilfenhaus, who has been out of action since November.

Although Rogers, who hit a double century against Australia for Leicestershire in 2005, made hay early on, uncapped seamer Peter George conceded only 14 runs in his 11 overs.

The first of the two Tests, staged in England because of continuing security problems in Pakistan, starts on Tuesday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version