AUSTRALIA took a step closer to finalising their bowling for next week’s first Test but not in a way they would have wanted. Nathan Hauritz, their one specialist spinner, again struggled to make much of a mark against Sussex and appears to have all but bowled himself out of contention.

Hauritz’s prospects were not helped by Marcus North, a batting allrounder, taking two wickets and looking every bit as capable an off-spinner. Australia may not need much persuading to pick a four-man pace attack backed by the occasional spin of North, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke. This was the strategy that won them two Tests in South Africa.

North’s problem is that he batted like a man scared of his shadow and could do with runs, not to mention self-confidence, at Worcester this week to keep the No 6 spot ahead of Shane Watson, who is back in training.

Hauritz, without a five-for in 45 first-class appearances, did not bowl badly as the Australians tried to force a morale-boosting win, but nor did he look like running through the opposition.

He was unlucky when Ricky Ponting put down a sitter at midwicket off Carl Hopkinson, who otherwise played excellently, on 69. None of the Australians seemed to know where to look. Ponting might have told Hauritz he wasn’t expecting it, but that might not have gone down well.

Anyway, things looked up in Hauritz’s next over when Luke Wright gloved a ball into his leg stump, a rather messy first wicket in his 34th over of the game, but Hauritz wasn’t going to worry about that.

Of the pacemen, Brett Lee looked sharper than Stuart Clark — who bowled just six of the first 74 overs — while Peter Siddle looked more dependable than either. Ben Hilfenhaus may be the man to miss out in the Test when Mitchell Johnson comes in.

Sussex, 237 for four at tea chasing 418, toyed with mounting a chase but lacked the firepower to do the job.

Sussex v Australians (Hove; final day of four): Sussex trail Australia by 55 runs with 4 wickets remaining

Australians

First Innings 349-7 dec (B J Haddin 69, N M Hauritz 65 no)

Second Innings 379-7 dec (P J Hughes 78, M J Clarke 75no, R T Ponting 71)

Sussex

First Innings 311

Second Innings
*M H Yardy c Clarke b North67
C D Nash c North b Siddle27
E C Joyce not out33
C D Hopkinson not out28
Extras (b 5, lb 1, nb 7)13
Total (2 wkts, 48 overs)168

Fall: 1-89, 2-119

Bowling: Lee 5-0-13-0; Hilfenhaus 6-1-32-0; Clark 6-0-31-0; Siddle 7-4-11-1; Hauritz 13-5-26-0; North 11-0-49-1

Umpires: S J Malone and G Sharp

Players per side: 12 (11 batting, 11 fielding)