Related Link : The Ashes
The three-day match between New South Wales and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground ended as an expected draw with James Anderson shining with the ball for the tourists. This is the first of the two warm-up matches for England before they play their opening Ashes Test at Brisbane from the 23rd.
New South Wales finished at 194 for 6 having got to bat for 51 overs in their second innings. If not for half centuries from Skipper Simon Katich (55) and Michael Clarke (68), NSW would have been in great trouble. James Anderson pushed his claims for a berth in the final eleven at Brisbane by taking 3 for 40 in 10 overs. Matthew Hoggard and Ashely Giles took a wicket each.
The day’s play would be better remembered for Kevin Pietersen’s century. Pietersen had added 42 runs to his overnight score of 80. He had faced 171 balls and had scored 18 fours and two sixes. Flintoff could add just 14 to his overnight score of 48. England were bowled out for 349 having batted for 90.4 overs. Stuart Clark was the most successful bowler for NSW taking three wickets while the trio of McGrath, Lee and Bracken took two wickets each.