England’s attack for the first Test is no closer to being finalised, after Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin turned in underwhelming performances on day one of the tour match against a largely no-name Invitational XI in Sydney.
With big names Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes, Adam Voges and Steve O’Keefe pulled from the match, a chance was provided for some unheralded NSW players to ironically prove themselves against England.
Originally, it was a NSW second XI that was scheduled to face England until the ECB complained about the standard of opposition and they were replaced by a Cricket Australia Invitational outfit.
Fallen Test star Ed Cowan played a brave knock of 51, before Ryan Carters (94 not out) and skipper Peter Nevill (76no) got on top of their more fancied opposition with an unbeaten 178-run stand.
At stumps on day one the Invitational side were 5-271, having recovered from 5-93.
Nevill is making his claim as a potential new Test understudy to Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Carters is on track for a maiden first-class hundred and said he and Nevill had a point to prove as New South Welshman not rated good enough by the English.
“Yeah, it’s really satisfying. We always backed ourselves to have a really good crack at the English and I think we showed today we’ve got some fight in us,” Carters said.
“Nev’s a really quality first-class player. He’s been doing it for a few years now and today he showed he can also do it against international opposition.”
In one clear positive for an underdone England, fast bowler Stuart Broad (3-36) found some form, taking three wickets from his 20 overs on Wednesday.
With James Anderson rested for the final tour match before the Gabba, coach Andy Flower needed one of Finn or Rankin to stand up and announce themselves for the vacant seam position for Brisbane.
But the pair failed to impress.
Finn took two wickets but struggled for consistency and went for 87 runs.
Rankin (0-52) bowled with good pace, but couldn’t sustain any momentum.
Chris Tremlett was also rested for this match but had struggled to assert himself in Perth and Hobart.
Broad was happy with his day out, and expressed confidence his bowling teammates would lift.
“It’s hugely exciting we have such a choice. I genuinely feel whoever goes into that seamer’s spot will do a fantastic job,” he said.
“Boyd’s bounce is exceptional, Finny has a fantastic strike rate in Test cricket and Tremlett has won games for England in Test cricket with his huge frame and consistency. All the guys add a huge amount, it’s a tough call to make.”
Broad devastated Australia in the fourth Test of the last Ashes series in Durham, and once again he shapes as a danger man this summer.
The 27-year-old has embraced his casting as Ashes villain, and seems to thrive on the negative emotion he created when he refused to talk at Trent Bridge when he nicked one behind.
Cowan batted calmly through the early carnage but threw away a chance at a ton when he slapped a pull shot off Finn to mid-wicket.
