Mitchell Johnson has failed to do anything substantial with the ball – or bat for that matter – as Australia found other positives from their warm-up game against Northamptonshire.
The Australians had batted first and scored 308/8 before declaring their innings. Shane Watson, who was injured earlier in the tour and did not play in any of the games, scored 84, while Michael Hussey scored a 75. In reply, Northamptonshire looked fairly comfortable against most of the bowlers, and scored 226/7 in less than 50 overs at the run-rate of 4.56 runs per over.
Peter Siddle picked up three wickets, while Stuart Clark made a strong claim for his place in the side by picking two scalps. Even Watson was able to bowl five overs – earlier his injuries did not allow him to – and get hold of two dismissals, but Johnson’s seven overs, as a first change bowler, cost him 42 runs and did not get him a single batsman.
The Aussies batted for 26 overs in the second innings and piled away 139 without the loss of any wicket. Phil Hughes finally seemed to have got his form back, hile Andrew McDonald, usually a number seven batsman also scored an unbeaten half century.