Tonight:
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Peter Siddle today staked an early claim for an Ashes starting spot by taking two Sussex wickets as Australia gained the upper hand on the second morning of their tour match, writes Tom Collomosse.
Paceman Siddle - nicknamed 'Vicious' for his confrontational style - had both Ed Joyce and Carl Hopkinson caught behind by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin as Sussex reached 98 for three at lunch.
Siddle ended the first session of the day at Hove with figures of two for 18 from his six overs - a display which will undoubtedly have pleased the Australian selectors as they look to finalise their bowling attack for the First Test against England, which begins in Cardiff in 13 days.
Fast-medium bowler Ben Hilfenhaus also laid down a marker, trapping Sussex skipper Mike Yardy lbw for only five during a miserly spell of one for 10 from his five overs.
Left-arm quickie Mitchell Johnson has been rested for this game but he is a certain starter in Cardiff - leaving Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz fighting for three places.
Lee and Hauritz had impressed with the bat, posting an unbroken stand of 117 which allowed Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting to declare overnight with his team having reached 349 for seven.
But neither man was able to make a similar impact with the ball, Lee going for 22 runs from his five overs, while Hauritz was even more expensive, conceding 35 runs from five overs at a rate of seven runs per over.
At lunch, Chris Nash was unbeaten on 34 for Sussex, with Rory Hamilton-Brown 24 not out.
Meanwhile, it was revealed today that the Ashes will be one of the last major Test series to take place without the controversial 'referral' system.
The system, which allows the batting and fielding sides to challenge decisions made by the umpire by asking for the third umpire to watch a replay of the incident, caused plenty of friction during England's tour of the West Indies earlier this year.
Despite the controversy, the International Cricket Council ruled today that the system will come into force from October.
