An Australian XI has had a narrow win over New Zealand in a World Cup warm-up game in Brisbane, with Steve Smith and David Warner returning after their ball-tampering bans. Key points: Steve Smith and David Warner return to the Australian side in a 50-over World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand Steve Smith and David Warner return to the Australian side in a 50-over World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand Smith makes 22 and takes a great catch, while Warner scores 39 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane Smith makes 22 and takes a great catch, while Warner scores 39 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane The Australian XI beats New Zealand by one wicket in the first of three warm-up games The game, the first of three matches to be held against New Zealand this week, went down to the wire. New Zealand batted first and made 215 off 46.1 overs. Australia looked in trouble at a number of stages, but last-wicket partnership Adam Zampa and Jason Behrendorff combined for 11 runs to see the home side over the line with 10 balls remaining. Returning from their 12-month bans, Smith and Warner received warm support from the crowd at Allan Border Field. Opener Usman Khawaja made just four runs before he departed in the opening over. Warner was the form batsman in the IPL before heading home to join the Australian squad. Batting at number three, he was second top-scorer for Australia with 39, including several fours and one six. Loading Aaron Finch made 52 off 64 balls, but when he departed to make it 3-122 it was the start of a run of wickets. Steve Smith made 22 before Matt Henry had him caught behind, bringing Marcus Stoinis to the crease. The all-rounder made a quick 15 before being caught, and one run later Shaun Marsh followed (also for 15) to leave Australia 6-154. Alex Carey (2) was out soon after, before some solid hitting from Nathan Coulter-Nile had Australia beginning to close in on the total. When Pat Cummins (5) was bowled it was 8-197, and then when Coulter-Nile went for 34, the home side was on the brink. But Zampa (11*) and Behrendorff (7*) made it through to the end, with Zampa hitting the winning runs. Pacemen do the damage for Australia As it was a practice game and not an official ODI, both sides were allowed to have 12 players. Australia chose to use a number of pacemen — Pat Cummins (3-36) and Jason Behrendorff opened the bowling for the hosts, then Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-44) and Kane Richardson (0-29) got a run. Also used were Stoinis (0-41) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (1-31). Aside from the spread of wickets, the highlights of the New Zealand innings were a 137-run partnership between Tom Blundell (77 off 102 balls) and Will Young (60 off 69), and a great catch taken by Steve Smith. When Young departed it was 2-138. Then Australia took 8-77, including 5-19 at the end, to dismiss a New Zealand side — albeit one missing 10 of its World Cup squad — for just 215. Among the wickets to go in a flurry was Tom Latham, who pushed at a delivery from Behrendorff and clipped it in the air for Smith to dart forward and take a diving catch — thankfully without hurting the elbow that he underwent surgery on in January. The catch prompted huge cheers from the crowd at Allan Border Field. The remaining warm-up games will be held on Wednesday and Friday this week, with all games starting at 9:30am AEST.<doc-sep>Steve Smith and David Warner made their unofficial returns for Australia from year-long suspensions in a World Cup warm-up game against New Zealand in Brisbane today and the former skipper certainly made his mark in the field, taking a brilliant catch. It’s the pair’s first time in Australian colours since the Cape Town ball-tampering affair, before next month’s World Cup in England. Australia was clapped onto the field by the small crowd on Monday, with one fan yelling out “welcome back Smithy” as the players walked through the gates. Pat Cummins wasted no time getting into the groove, taking two wickets in the match’s first over. Warner hovered at mid-on and mid-off and Smith spent time at second slip and in the ring, taking a sensational catch late in the innings. Acting Kiwi skipper Tom Latham (13) got a leading edge off Jason Behrendorff and Smith charged in from mid-wicket, diving to take a one-handed grab just before the ball hit the turf and showing no signs of being affected by his recent elbow injury. The Kiwis struggled throughout their innings and Cummins and Behrendorff both picked up three wickets, as did fellow paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile. Kane Richardson bowled some early overs after being selected as a playing 12th man, in an indication he is being considered if Jhye Richardson (dislocated shoulder) can’t prove his fitness for the World Cup. Tom Blundell (77) and Will Young (60) were the visitors’ best with the bat, putting on a 137-run partnership for the third wicket but few of their teammates were able to fire. From 2/138, New Zealand collapsed to lose 8/77 and was bowled out for 215 after 46.1 overs. The return of the two former leaders saw them inserted into the batting order at No. 3 and No. 4, but they weren’t able to stabilise a disastrous collapse. Only chasing 216 runs for victory, the Australian order fell in a heap but managed to scrape home with Adam Zampa hitting the winning runs with 10 balls and no wickes spare. AUS XI win! Adam Zampa crashes a shot through the covers for a match winning boundary with 10 balls to spare. — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 6, 2019 The decision to put Warner at first drop was a surprising one given he’d played almost all of his international cricket exclusively as an opener. He also opens for all his domestic T20 teams and NSW when he’s not on international duty. Warner appeared a little rusty back in the green and gold, despite his red-hot form in the IPL. He arrived at the crease and was almost caught on his first ball. He eventually found his feet, but was brought unstuck on 39 as Australia fell to 2-82. Warner’s dismissal saw Smith return to the crease, the pair even exchanged some words as Smith walked out to the middle. And Steve Smith earns huge applause as he walks to the middle pic.twitter.com/ZDSfp90M7k — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 6, 2019 Just as Australia looked to be in a comfortable position, opener Finch fell in the 26th over to leave Australia 3/122 after the skipper’s knock of 52 from 64. Smith was caught behind on 22 off the bowling of Matt Henry. Marcus Storinis didn’t last long either, dismissed for 15 in the 31st over. The shock order shake-up allowed the Aussies to keep Finch and Usman Khawaja at the top of the order after they performed strongly in recent ODI series against India and Pakistan. Across 10 matches Khawaja scored 655 runs at an average of 65.5 while Finch bounced back to form, scoring 83 against India in Ranchi and plundering two tons and two half centuries in five digs against Pakistan. However, Khawaja was dismissed early and Warner eventually got off the mark with a single after being dropped at gully. Smith and Warner have been hampered by viruses since returning from the Indian Premier League but took part in net sessions on Sunday ahead of the first of three practice games against New Zealand. The duo have enjoyed a solid comeback in the T20 IPL, with Warner in blistering form, topping the competition batting rankings with 692 runs from 12 innings. Coach Justin Langer on Friday insisted there was “no tension” between the pair and the rest of the squad, adding: “They’re back in the team now. They’ve been selected, which is brilliant.” All-rounder Maxwell also denied any awkward moments, saying it had been “business as usual”. “The way they came in (to the dressing room), we wanted to hear how they had enjoyed the IPL; wanted to hear how Davey enjoyed his time opening the batting with (England’s Jonny) Bairstow (for Sunrisers Hyderabad),” he said. “And they are both superstars. I watched both of them go about it (in IPL) and they were both absolutely brilliant over there. “There will be no worries about them coming back into the team.” With Australia’s defence of its World Cup crown less than a month away, Langer will use the three warm-up games to fine-tune his plans. The team has been in red-hot form, winning eight one-day internationals on the trot, against India and Pakistan, built on the flourishing opening partnership between Finch and Khawaja. With AAP<doc-sep>Steve Smith made a sparkling return to form in Australia’s second World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Brisbane today, but David Warner wasn’t so lucky. Smith scored 22 in game one on Monday as he made his comeback from a 12-month suspension for the ball tampering scandal but today he went to another level, plundering an impressive half century as he finished on 89 not out from just 77 balls. The former skipper blasted 26 runs from the final two overs of the innings and top scored for the hosts, who made 6/277 from their 50 overs. In his return to the national team in Monday’s first hit-out against the Kiwis, Warner was shifted to No. 3 to accommodate Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. He scored 39 but the Aussies changed things up today by promoting him to face the new ball. The reshuffle didn’t pay off though, as the left-hander was out for a duck when he spooned Doug Bracewell to cover. Khawaja came in at first drop to replace Warner at the crease and made a patient 56. Glenn Maxwell was the other batsman to pass 50, registering 52, while Finch was out for 16 and Shaun Marsh, who batted at No. 4, left for 28. Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile have been rested for today’s clash after the trio each took three wickets in Monday’s tight win. Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was also impressive in his return and took 2-14 from five overs as New Zealand chased down the total with seven wickets in hand. Kane Richardson, who will replace the injured Jhye Richardson in the squad for next month’s tournament in England, said Starc hit speeds close to 150kmh in a showing that adds plenty to the side’s Cup defence. “I was sitting near the speed gun ... I think 148(kmh) one of them was, the rest of us were around 135,” he said. “I think if he bowled his quota it (the result) may’ve been different. “It’s the trump card to have at that last World Cup; sitting back watching that was pretty amazing.” Starc was the only wicket-taker in a below-strength attack as Will Young was run out for a superb 130 and captain Tom Latham (69no) saw New Zealand home. CRUSHING WORLD CUP BLOW ROCKS AUSSIES Australia has copped a devastating blow to its World Cup hopes with fast bowler Jhye Richardson ruled out of the tournament because of a shoulder injury. Richardson dislocated his shoulder while fielding in an ODI against Pakistan in the UAE in March but selectors picked him in the World Cup squad, optimistic he would be fit in time for Australia’s first game on June 1. However, he hasn’t been able to recover in time and was officially ruled out today. “This is obviously very disappointing news for the team and for Jhye, who has been exceptional throughout his rehabilitation process,” Australian physiotherapist David Beakley said. “After his most recent assessment and attempting to bowl in the nets, it was clear that Jhye was not progressing as fast as required and therefore, in consultation with selectors, we made the decision to withdraw him from the squad. “Jhye will continue with his rehabilitation and we will look to resume bowling in the coming weeks. At this stage we are still hopeful that he could be available for the Australia A tour of England.” Richardson will be replaced in the 15-man squad by South Australian seamer Kane Richardson. Josh Hazlewood — who wasn’t included in the initial squad because of fitness concerns — was overlooked. Jhye Richardson has impressed with his ability to bowl at high pace and swing the ball away from right-handers since becoming a regular part of the Australian set-up last summer. He made his ODI debut in January 2018, playing four games that year before earning a recall in January 2019 against India and establishing himself in the starting XI and winning World Cup selection. He played all three one-dayers against the tourists at home and travelled to India for the return series, taking eight wickets in three outings on Indian soil. However, his rise was cut short when he dislocated his shoulder in the outfield against Pakistan in Sharjah. With AAP<doc-sep>
Steve Smith and David Warner returned to Australia's XI on Monday in a warm-up match against New Zealand. David Warner has made a nervous start at the crease as he returns to Australian colours in the opening World Cup warm-up match in Brisbane. Back from his one-year suspension, along with former skipper Steve Smith, Warner batted at No.3 in a surprise move as Australia chased 216 against a New Zealand XI at Allan Border Field. The home team edged home against a second-string New Zealand side by one wicket thanks to a tail-end rescue act. Warm applause followed Warner to the crease after Usman Khawaja (4) was bowled from the fourth ball of the innings. But he was almost marching straight back when a forward defence from his first ball popped just short of point. The second lobbed within reach of bowler Matt Henry and the first ball of his next over was dropped by a diving Daryl Mitchell at gully. AUSTRALIA’S SURPRISE WARNER MOVE IN WORLD CUP WARM-UP WATCH: SMITH STUNNER MARKS RETURN TO GREEN AND GOLD Stream every match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Live & Anytime in HD on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial > Warner eventually scurried through for a single to get off the mark in the fifth over and stroked a full-toss through cover for a pressure-relieving boundary soon after. He then launched a pull shot for six and nudged a boundary to fine leg as Australia moved to 1-36 in the eighth over. It is Smith and Warner’s first time in Australian colours since the Cape Town ball-tampering affair in March 2018. Smith is listed to bat at No.4, while Shaun Marsh was named at No.5 with Glenn Maxwell left out of the side. Paceman Pat Cummins (3-36) wasted no time getting into the groove against a weakened New Zealand XI, picking up two wickets in the first over of the match. Jason Behrendorff (3-34) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-44) also troubled the Kiwis, who were bowled out in the 47th over. The visitors, missing regular skipper Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill and Trent Boult - all still on IPL duties in India - recovered thanks to a 137-run stand between Will Young (60) and Tom Blundell (77). But the Black Caps then lost 6-43, Smith aiding the collapse with a sharp one-handed diving effort at midwicket to dismiss captain Tom Latham for 13. Australia coach Justin Langer insists there have been no awkward moments since Warner and Smith’s return to the national squad camp from what he described as a humbling experience for Australian cricket in South Africa. Warner was in terrific form in the IPL, scoring 692 runs in 12 innings - including eight fifties and a century. Langer has remained coy on who will open the batting in England, with Warner, Aaron Finch and Khawaja all options to face the new ball against Afghanistan on June 1. Having only recently returned from a pec injury, Mitchell Starc was left out of Australia’s twelve-man team sheet. Kane Richardson bowled some early overs after being selected as a playing 12th man, in an indication he is being considered if Jhye Richardson (dislocated shoulder) can’t prove his fitness. Australia XII: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson (12th)