Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood strengthened his claims for a place in the first Ashes Test with four wickets in the tour win over Essex. Hazlewood took 4-42 and Mitchell Starc 3-26 as the Aussies beat Essex by 169 runs at Chelmsford for their second tour victory, following their Kent win. The Ashes begin on 8 July in Cardiff.
After Australia were bowled out for 221, Essex were set 370 to win.
But, despite Ryan ten Doeschate’s 61, the home side fell well short on 200.
At 140-2, after a partnership of 97 with Ravi Bopara (42), Essex, although missing injured pair Nick Browne and Tom Westley, still held on to hopes of at least avoiding defeat.
But Starc struck twice, followed by three successive wickets for Hazlewood as Essex lost their last six wickets for just 60, being bowled out inside 49 overs.
In the end, Australia came through their four days in Chelmsford in fine fettle, but not without a few injuries.
Captain Michael Clarke suffered a painful blow to his hand, which followed Ryan Harris’s late withdrawal from the starting XI at Chelmsford with a long-standing knee injury. (BBC Sport)