Ashes 2013: Steve Smith and Phil Hughes in runs for Australia

Australia's batsmen rediscovered some form during the first day of their tour match against Sussex on Friday.

Australia are 2-0 down in the Ashes and last week ex-fast bowler Jeff Thomson called their batting an "embarrassment" and "the worst we've ever seen".

But Steve Smith, who only managed three runs in last week's second Test, scored an unbeaten 98 at Hove.

Phil Hughes (84) and Ed Cowan (66) also made half-centuries and James Faulkner hit 48 as the tourists ended on 354-5.

Australia trail 2-0 in the five-Test Ashes series and this is their only warm-up match before the third Test at Old Trafford starts on 1 August.

Hughes made 84 for Australia off 118 balls before being caught behind

They desperately need to score more runs if they are to get back on terms with England and the tourists showed signs of life with a dominant performance at Hove, scoring at almost four runs an over.

Cowan and Hughes put on 150 for the opening wicket before Cowan became the first of Lewis Hatchett's two victims.

His shot was caught at square leg by James Taylor, the Nottinghamshire and England batsman playing in the Sussex team to get match practice against the Australians.

He could play in next week's third Test if the injured Kevin Pietersen fails to recover from a calf injury.

Hughes, who has only scored two runs in his last three Test innings against England, fell 16 runs short of a century before England spinner Monty Panesar took the wickets of Usman Khawaja (40) and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade in quick succession.

But a 131-run partnership for the fifth wicket kept Australia in control, although Faulkner was dismissed late on, bowled by Panesar, who ended day one with figures of 3-65 off 23 overs.

Smith will resume on Saturday morning two runs short of his century with Australia aiming to build a large total.