Ashes 2019: Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc among wickets in Australia tour match
- Published
- comments
Hazlewood and Starc were left out of the Australia team for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston
Josh Hazlewood took three wickets and Mitchell Starc two as Australia kept the upper hand on day two of their tour match against Worcestershire.
Hazlewood and Starc are aiming to prove their form before the second Ashes Test, which starts on Wednesday, and took 3-34 and 2-56 respectively.
Australia were held up by Alex Milton (74) and Charlie Morris (53 not out) before the hosts declared on 201-9.
Resuming 65 behind, Australia reached 92-1 at the close, a lead of 157.
Opener Marcus Harris was unbeaten on 62 and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh 22 not out after being promoted to number three.
But opener Cameron Bancroft failed again, making just seven to add to his first-innings 33, before falling to paceman Morris.
Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser both also took two wickets for Australia at New Road.
After initially playing a supporting role to half-centurion Milton, who batted well on his recall for the first time since last September, Worcestershire fast bowler Morris excited a well above average home crowd with the first half-century of his career.
Surpassing his previous first-class score of 33, he also went past his previous best for Worcestershire, 25 not out against the 2013 Australian tourists, which means that, in two meetings with the Aussies, Morris is yet to be out.
He survived being bowled off a no ball by Starc, and then also needed treatment after being hit on the head by a bouncer from the Aussie left-armer.