County Ground 3rd - 4th September - Match Scorecard

Essex opener Alastair Cook ruined Australia's build-up to the final Test with a blazing 214 in their tour match.

With only Shane Warne rested from the attack that lost the fourth Test last week the county side had reached 502-4 half way through the two-day game.

Will Jefferson (64) shared an opening stand of 140 before Ravinder Bopara joined the fun with 135 off 220 balls.

Spinner Stuart MacGill, a fifth Test hopeful, saw his 24 overs go for 128 as the county side ran wild.

The tourists had gone into the match looking for the extra edge they will need if they are to win the final Test and prevent England from reclaiming the Ashes.

Instead it was Cook, on Friday named England's young cricketer of the year, who set the tone for the day.

He delighted the 6,000 sell-out crowd with a flurry of boundaries, including three from Brett Lee's second over.

Cook needed just 49 balls to bring up his half-century. He was unbeaten on 85 by lunch and brought up his century from only 107 deliveries.

By the time he was finally caught by Jason Gillespie off a Michael Kasprowicz delivery shortly after tea, Cook had helped himself to 33 boundaries and a six in the most memorable innings of his career to date.

Unfortunately for Cook, the match will not count towards first-class statistics because 12 players have been nominated for each side, with 11 on the field at any one time.

Essex are allowed a maximum 120 overs to bat but could declare early looking to inflict Australia's second defeat by a county on this tour.

Somerset beat the tourists by four wickets in a one-day match in June.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath missed the match because of a continuing right elbow problem but is confident of being passed fit for The Oval. (report courtesy BBC)

Day 2

Matthew Hayden smashed 150 not out in a single session for Australia in their tour match against Essex.

Hayden, in poor form in the Ashes, thumped 151 off 119 balls before retiring soon after lunch.

He hit seven sixes and 18 fours and was dropped twice, but only after reaching his century as the Essex bowlers suffered on an excellent batting track.

Justin Langer was caught at slip off the spin of James Middlebrook for 87 in a partnership of 213 with Hayden.

Australia had reason to bat well and aggressively.

It is their last day of cricket before the final Ashes Test and their bowlers had really suffered on Saturday as Essex romped to 502-4.

It was Hayden who set the tone of the morning's play, plundering 17 runs from the second over of the day, which was bowled by Tony Palladino.

Of the six bowlers used by the home side, only South African international Andre Nel emerged with his creditability intact as a succession of his county colleagues felt the full force of the Aussie pair's blistering assault.

Both took a shine to medium-pacer Graham Napier, whose brief four overs cost 35.

Hayden reached a highly-entertaining century with a straight drive. His innings, like Langer's, combined bold hitting and selective shot selection.

Essex gave a debut to 19-year-old swing bowler Jahid Ahmed, who may have wished for an easier opener as he was carted about the Ford County Ground. (report courtesy BBC)

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