Steve Harmison dismissed Phillip Hughes, the Australia opener, for only seven early in the morning session against England Lions at New Road. Then Graham Onions had Ricky Ponting caught by Vikram Solanki at slip for a single. Michael Atherton, The Times Cricket Correspondent, gives his views on the morning's play.

Harmison has been the story of the morning - how impressed have you been with him?

MA: He has only bowled one spell, but it was a good one. Quite sharp and with a good line. And of course the wicket of Hughes.

He was clocked at more than 90mph - did he look fit and bowling close to 100 per cent?

MA: Well, he is the second-leading wicket-taker in the country, so he is obviously not far off. He has bowled a lot at the start of this season, which is what I always feel he needs.

With Harmison, it's often seemed that the key to his performance is in his mind. He looks fit and interested and this series is at home so home-sickness won't be an issue, so how big a gamble would it be for the selectors to give him the nod?

MA: I think what they'll want is a full range of options to pick from. Harmison in form can only be a good thing. But Graham Onions is the man in possession and he has also bowled well this morning.

Would it be difficult for the selectors to pick him given his history, or do you have the feeling that they would love to throw him in if he shows the right signs in this match?

MA: It's obvious they might have reservations, but in a way it can only make life easier for selectors if they can call upon a 200-plus wicket-taking Test match bowler who is in form.

Harmison softened up Hughes before getting him out and Onions got Ricky Ponting out driving, so can we view the early exchanges as round one to England, or just good practice for the touring side?

MA: A bit of both, really. We've seen a strong Lions team giving the tourists a good workout. They've bowled well and presented Austraila with quite a task. They'll be happy going to lunch with only two wickets down.

Anything else that caught your eye this morning?

MA: The way that Hughes got out - Hugh Morrison and James Whittaker will have seen that. It was the sort of dismissal that makes fast bowlers sit up and take notice.

Meanwhile, Richard Hobson has been watching England make a serene start in their warm-up match against Warwickshire.

Richard, what have been the main talking points this morning? Have the batsmen looked in good nick?

RH: Alastair Cook made a pleasing half-century. It was chanceless, and he looked in good nick, hitting ten fours - so he's in ominous form ahead of the Ashes. Andrew Strauss looked all right before he edged one to second slip.

With this being England's only warm-up match before next week's first Test, is there a danger they will go into the series undercooked?

RH: No, they've been playing all season. It's the first time there has been this kind of warm-up against a county team, which sort of replicates a tour. But it's not as if this is their only game, it's just their only game as an England XI.

Have you seen Andrew Flintoff around this morning?

RH: Yes, I have - not unexpectedly, as he's part of the team. He took a full part in the warm-ups this morning - a normal day, in fact.

What's the view in the press box of his rather public dressing down yesterday (for missing the team bus in Flanders)?

RH: We've not been talking about it. The feeling is that the story has been written and we move on - onwards and upwards. Well, onwards. He's a compelling cricketer, because he makes things happen, and that's what we want to see.