The Australians purred at the top and sputtered in the middle on the first day of their outing against Derbyshire. You could predict the toss would bring few surprises, given the Australians warmed up with throw-downs in centre-wicket nets while Derbyshire bowlers pelted balls down an adjacent strip. David Warner and Shaun Marsh carried that same sense of net-session ease to the middle, as both openers batted past lunch and retired out for 101.
As the Australians have learned in the past, things are not always breezy after a high-profile retirement. Warner skipped to his hundred but, as in recent Tests, Michael Clarke produced the stiff-backed innings of a man hampered by injury. The captain lasted 37 balls for 16 runs before edging to slip, while Adam Voges continued his underwhelming tour in a five-ball stay that ended lbw for one.
Both fell to the youthful pace of the first-class debutant Will Davis, the main bright point of the day for Derbyshire, the 19-year-old bowling with considerable pace off a long run to finish with three for 63. He discomforted several of the Australians with pace on his short ball and saw Warner wear a stinging whack to the box. Fellow youthful debutant Harry White also showed promise with two for 85.
The brothers Marsh added 72, with Mitchell playing the more dashing hand until Shaun’s retirement. Then, in an intriguing subplot to a match in which the Australians named two wicketkeepers, Peter Nevill batted ahead of Brad Haddin after the latter had stepped down during the Lord’s Test due to family issues. Nevill had a chance to impress the selectors after a polished debut but he failed to press his case when he cut Davis to Scott Elstone at point for a single run.
Haddin made 32 batting at No8 until he was bowled charging Tony Palladino, after Mitchell Marsh had been caught behind for 53 from White. Between times, Shane Watson vented his recent frustration by bashing 61 runs from 45 balls, including five to the boundary and four over it.
With Siddle run out in the late gloom for two, the last man, Fawad Ahmed, got Pat Cummins through to stumps, Cummins making a well-struck 21 from 22 balls to prove that two years out of first-class cricket has not hurt his batting. His bowling will be under the microscope on Friday, though, with the Australians picking three specialist bowlers. Should Derbyshire prove less accommodating with the bat than with the toss, there will be a power of work for all-rounders Watson and Mitchell Marsh.
The latter’s odds of playing with his brother Shaun at Edgbaston depend on how Chris Rogers recovers from vestibular damage after being struck by a bouncer at Lord’s. A prognosis for Rogers will be clearer by the end of this match, with more tests on Friday. But his potential replacement now has two centuries in two tour outings so far.
Shaun Marsh seemed to have Test preparation on his mind, intent on batting long despite the moderate bowling. Only the odd straight drive showed attacking intent in a stay of 177 balls over more than four hours. Warner did not give the impression of an overly attacking innings – he hit one boundary fewer than Marsh – but he did so in 108 balls and nearly half the time.
“Oh, not really,” said Shaun Marsh when asked if he had one eye on Edgbaston. “It was just nice to get out there, I’ve been spending a lot of time in the nets.” As for his opening partner, he protested that there was no point in comparison. “To be honest, there’s not too many guys who can play like David Warner, so I just worry about playing my game and sticking to my strengths and hopefully that works.”
In his limited opportunities so far on tour, it certainly has.
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