Promising signs for recovering quicks

England will hope the most significant action on the final day of this tour match against a Cricket Australia XI was taking place in the nets behind the Tony Ireland Stadium rather than on the field, where they were held to a demoralising draw.

It was hardly the greatest preparation for next week’s first Ashes Test at the Gabba, where David Warner, Steve Smith and the rest of Australia’s batting line-up will present a far tougher challenge than youngsters Matt Short and Jason Sangha, who both struck maiden first-class hundreds to blunt England’s attack.

That’s why the action in the nets, where James Anderson and Jake Ball were both put through their paces, may actually have more bearing on events in Brisbane than the laboured efforts of Stuart Broad and company out in the middle in Townsville.

Anderson, who was rested for this final warm-up match, was struck down with a bug earlier in the week. Ball sustained an ankle injury during last week’s tour match against the CA XI in Adelaide.

Both, though, looked sharp in the nets on Saturday as they were put through three spells of five overs each.

There have never any doubts Anderson will play in Brisbane such is his stature as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker and his brilliant form so far this year – those 39 wickets at 14.10 during the northern summer.

The same could not be said of Ball after his injury nine days ago, the Nottinghamshire fast bowler confined to a protective boot and crutches until earlier this week.

However, after what assistant coach Paul Farbrace described as a “miracle” recovery, Ball is now in pole position to take the fourth seam bowler’s slot in England’s team for the Gabba.

This has been a good game for Ball to miss, especially with Overton having what in colloquial English slang is termed ‘a bit of a ’mare’.

Overton’s third successive duck during England’s first innings blew claims, for now at least, that he can be considered a bowling all-rounder. His tired, tetchy display with the ball on this fourth day in Townsville, where he bowled eight wicketless overs, may well have swung the selection decision in Ball’s favour.

That seems even more the case when you take into account Farbrace’s quotes following the third day’s play here explaining how keen coach Trevor Bayliss is to get into the team for the Ashes.

“Trevor has had it in mind for some time now that Jake Ball’s skills would be well suited to these conditions so that’s why we’re quite keen to have him available,” said Farbrace. “He’s absolutely, definitely in the mix for the First Test.

“Trevor has always had Bally earmarked for this particular series. He thought, right from the start of him coming into the England team that Australia would be the place for him.”

England certainly need something different in their attack from this match, with Anderson and Ball likely to beef it up significantly.

Stuart Broad has not looked great either in Townsville or his previous match in Perth, after which he admitted he “bowled like a drain”.

You get the feeling, though, that Broad will raise his game when it really matters, the adrenaline from a packed Gabba and the sight of Warner at the other end getting his competitive juices flowing and increasing his focus and performance significantly.

Woakes, too, has looked good in all three tour matches, taking six wickets in the first innings in Townsville. Both Broad and Woakes were held by England on the final day of this last warm-up match as team management kept a close eye on their workloads ahead of the first Test.

Yet it still wasn’t an excuse for a collective bowling display that will hardly have Australia shaking in their boots.

Cricket Network will live stream England's tour match in Townsville on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Click above to learn more about Townsville or watch the great video below!

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21