Ashes 2019: Steve Smith makes return to action

Australia’s Ashes warm-up doubled as a selection showdown for the top-order batsmen.

Steve Smith bowls on day one of the three-day match against Derbyshire. Picture: AFP

Tim Paine has praised Marcus Harris’ aggressive intent after the opener and Usman Khawaja started their selection showdown in Derby, helping Australia reach 0-77 at stumps on day one of the Ashes tour game.

Stand-in skipper Khawaja and Harris are opening together in Australia’s three-day match against Derbyshire, which started on Thursday with Mitchell Starc grabbing three wickets in an over to help roll the hosts for 172.

The expectation is that one of the two batsmen will make way for Steve Smith in the XI that will face England in the fourth Test that begins on Wednesday, unless selectors spring a surprise by dumping Matthew Wade.

Khawaja, promoted to open in this week’s match after batting at first drop in the first three Tests, will resume on 18 and boasts a magnificent average of 96.8 from seven Test innings as opener.

Harris, who made way for Cameron Bancroft at the start of this five-Test series then was recalled for the clash in Leeds, is 52 not out.

Marcus Harris opens up during Australia’s first innings. Picture: Getty Images

The duo will both look to go big on Friday, with Paine admitting the tour game is “important for guys to make sure that you’re keeping your name up in front of the selectors”.

“A few guys have done it. Which is very pleasing ... we want to have depth and we want our selectors to have to make difficult decisions,” the rested captain said after watching Thursday’s action from the sidelines.

“Both those guys have started really well.

“The best player in the world is coming back ... obviously someone from the last Test is going to miss out.

“I’m not too sure who ... we’ll know a lot more by the end of this game.”

The challenge presented by Derbyshire does not resemble that awaiting at Old Trafford, where England’s all-time wicket tacker Jimmy Anderson is expected to return from a calf injury and join Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer in a potent pace attack.

The 36-year-old Tony Palladino and first-class debutant Dustin Melton took the new ball on Thursday, when Harris seized on anything loose to score more freely than Khawaja.

“If you bowl a bad ball to Harry, he puts it away and I think that puts guys under pressure,” Paine said after Harris raced past 50 in 77 balls.

“He keeps the scoreboard moving but, as he’s shown in Sheffield Shield cricket, he’s got the ability to bat for a long time and score big hundreds.

“We know that Harry’s got Test runs in him ... hopefully he starts well tomorrow, gets a big score and he can continue putting runs on the board, like he has for the last 18 months.”

Khawaja offered a sharp caught-and-bowled chance on 15, which failed to stick in youngster Alfie Gleadall’s outstretched hand, but otherwise negotiated the 23 overs without much discomfort.

AAP