Australia consolidate after stumble

Simon Katich and Mike Hussey led an Australian recovery after the tourists had been given a searching examination by the England Lions pair Steve Harmison and Graham Onions at New Road.

The Durham new-ball pairing picked up the wickets of opener Phillip Hughes and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting respectively after the latter had chosen to bat on a muggy morning.

But Katich and Hussey added an unbroken 82 in 18 overs to steered Australia to 106 for two from 29 overs by lunch.

Katich reached his half century in the last over before the interval - off 87 balls with eight fours - while Hussey was unbeaten on 37.

The Durham pair of Onions and Harmison were looking to stake a late claim to be included in the England squad for the first Ashes Test which will be announced on Sunday.

Hughes was hit on the helmet from Harmison's first delivery and it was the big Durham paceman who made the first breakthrough in the eighth over when Hughes, on seven, fended a short ball off the handle of his bat to Joe Denly at gulley.

His dismissal brought in Ponting but he struggled before his dismissal to Onions for only a single.

The first delivery he faced produced an involuntary stroke after he had tried to remove his bat from a Harmison delivery.

He was then struck on the shoulder trying to pull a short ball from Harmison before trying to force Onions off the back foot and falling to a head high catch by Vikram Solanki at first slip.

Australia were then 24 for two and it was left for Katich and Hussey to steady the ship.