Michael Clarke hits 76 as Australia beat Essex by 179 runs

Michael Clarke hit 76 for Australia before retiring

Captain Michael Clarke scored 76 as Australia completed their warm-up for the one-day series against England with a 179-run win over Essex.

David Hussey hit 67 for the tourists as they raced to 313-9 off their 50 overs.

England's one-day captain Alastair Cook managed only five runs as Essex were bowled out for 134 at Chelmsford, with teenager Pat Cummins taking 3-26.

Australia face the first of five one-day internationals against England at Lord's on Friday.

Cook's international team-mate Ravi Bopara hit 39 for the county side, striking six fours, while wicketkeeper James Foster got 41.

But any hope Cook had of getting a good look at Australia's bowling attack were ruined by Clint McKay in the fourth over of the Essex innings.

He lasted only 15 balls as an intended drive was edged to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Young Essex left-arm seamer Reece Topley made an impression by taking four Australian wickets, dismissing opener Watson.

But the experienced Clarke and Hussey did plenty of damage, while Matthew Wade and Steve Smith also made significant scores later in the Australian innings.

Watson and David Warner got Australia off to a speedy start, notching up 51 between them in a little more than six overs.

Warner went for 26, caught in the deep by Ryan ten Doeschate off the bowling of Graham Napier, before Watson edged a bouncing Topley delivery to Foster.

Clarke steadied the innings after Topley dismissed George Bailey, putting on a 137-run stand with Hussey before retiring to give other batsmen a chance.

Essex never looked like getting close to Australia's total, with Mark Pettini dismissed by Brett Lee in the third over before Cook fell.

When Cummins bowled Tom Westley in the sixth over, Essex had only 14 runs on the board.

Bopara and Foster managed to stop the wickets falling for a while, but the home side were dismissed with almost 18 of their 50 overs remaining.