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Australian batsman Phillip Hughes - Source: Reuters -
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Phillip Hughes scored a badly-needed half century as Stuart Clark sized up Mitchell Johnson's spot in the Test side in the tour match against Northamptonshire.
The jockeying for positions for the third Ashes Test in Edgbaston heated up on Sunday with Shane Watson continuing to impress by backing up his brisk 84 with 2-20 at Wantage Road.
Hughes (65no) entered Australia's second innings under pressure to find his way out of his form slump and had a bit of luck along the way.
But he brought up his half century with a show of confidence by belting spinner Graeme White over the long-on boundary just before the close of play.
Australia were 0-139 in their second innings at stumps on day two, a lead of 225 runs, with the promoted Andrew McDonald (69no) having played a fine hand.
Hughes survived a confident caught behind appeal down the leg side on 24 off the bowling of David Lucas, the paceman celebrating the batsman's downfall before turning around to ask the question and being turned down.
Four runs later on 28, Hughes edged a defensive shot between wicketkeeper and first slip off David Wigley's bowling.
To show he wasn't flustered by his near miss, Hughes hit the following ball through cover for four.
Johnson (0-42 off seven overs) earlier set about bowling this way of contention for the Birmingham Test and now must produce a telling spell on the final day on Sunday to retain his spot in the national side.
The left-armer desperately needed to show some semblance of control against a weakened Northamptonshire side following his well-publicised meltdown at Lord's.
He again failed to keep the runs down and veteran seamer Clark (2-45) showed the sort of measured performance the national side had been missing at the home of cricket.
Clark started to claw his way back into the Test side by taking the first two wickets of the innings in an accurate opening eight-over spell after he and Peter Siddle (3-53) were handed the new ball.
The New South Welshman produced a consistent line and length as he had Ben Howgego (9) caught behind and Rob White (5) chopping the ball back onto his stumps.
Siddle uprooted the off-stump of Niall O'Brien (30) and the tourists appeared set to rip through the home side as Johnson entered the attack.
However Alex Wakely (62) and Riki Wessels (50) upped the scoring rate against Johnson and the medium-pace of McDonald (0-23).
Watson was the sixth bowler used and he continued to press his claims to unseat Marcus North at No.6 by removing Wakely and Wessels from errant shots just before tea.
The home side closed its innings at 2(dec)-226 not long after the break.
Scoreboard at stumps on day two of the three-day tour match between Australia and Northamptonshire
Australia 1st Innings 8(dec)-308
Northamptonshire 1st Innings 7(dec)-226
Australia 2nd Innings
P Hughes not out 65
A McDonald not out 69
Sundries (5lb) 5
No wicket for 139
Bowling: Wigley 6-0-35-0, Lucas 6-0-31-0, Brooks 5-0-29-0, White
5-0-22-0, Willey 4-0-17-0
