Ashes series 2015: Live blog of Essex v Australia, last day of final warm-up match

AUSTRALIA has won its final tour match before the first Ashes Test, with Josh Hazlewood proving he’s ready to fill the void left by the retired Ryan Harris.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies' Jason Holder on LBW to end the innings, on day three of the second cricket Test between Australia and the West Indies, June 13, 2015 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK

LIFE in the Australian cricketing set-up without Ryan Harris got off to a shaky start on the final day of the tour game against Essex, with rookie quick Josh Hazlewood blasted for 27 runs in the first over of the day.

However, Hazlewood, the man tipped by Dennis Lillee to dominate in English conditions fought back strongly with four wickets to lead Australia home to a comprehensive 169-run win in Chelmsford.

Off the field the Australians have been rattled by the sudden career-ending injury to popular superstar Harris, only told about his retirement before play on Saturday.

INJURY: Harris retires in Ashes bombshell for Aussies

But at least the tourists have completed an otherwise ideal preparation for Wednesday’s first Test start in Cardiff by skittling Essex for 200 before tea on day four — although the hosts were down two batsmen due to injury.

Hazlewood has barely put a foot wrong since coming into the Australian fold late last year, however he reached a concerning low point when he was carted for six consecutive boundaries in a horror over that included five fours, a six and a no ball.

Especially given he will be looked to by captain Michael Clarke to provide control while Mitchell’s Johnson and Starc are given a licence to attack this Ashes.

Bowling in English conditions for the first time is never easy, and Hazlewood’s wayward start only emphasised the enormity of what losing the experienced and ever-reliable Harris means for the Australians this Ashes.

However, to his credit, the 24-year-old Hazlewood bounced back to finish with figures of 4-42 and even put himself on a hat-trick late in the day.

The best sign for Australia this tour match has been the form of Mitchell Starc.

The left-arm World Cup hero himself had a tough start to the match in the first innings, but finished with nine wickets for the game to have himself primed for an Ashes series which could see him establish himself as the No. 1 bowler in the much-vaunted Australian attack.

A silver lining in the cruel blow of losing Harris, has been the solid showing of back-up bowler Peter Siddle in Chelmsford.

He finished with just the one wicket across the two innings, but barely went for any runs, in an encouraging sign that Australia has another experienced bowler in their arsenal capable of keeping things tight.

Siddle has played 10 straight Tests in English conditions and has proven in Chelmsford that he might still have more to offer at international level after falling off the pace during the summer.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon had little luck in Chelmsford, going for 0-136 in the first innings and 1-64 in the second in a sign he might have his work cut out this series if England adopt a similar ploy to try and blast the offie out of the attack.

Duelling all-rounder candidates Mitchell Marsh and Shane Watson both went wicket-less.

Originally published as Ashes series 2015: Live blog of Essex v Australia, last day of final warm-up match