Fawad Ahmed’s Ashes hopes suffered an early setback on Thursday as Test pair Michael Clarke and David Warner hit the legspinner out of Victoria’s attack on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash.
NSW reached 2-131 at lunch in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 236 at the MCG.
Warner played with typical aggression, crashing 15 boundaries in his 88 off 78 deliveries. Test skipper Clarke, untroubled by recent back problems, was on 24 from 46 balls.
Ahmed came on to bowl after 16 overs with the score on 2-69 and Clarke on two and yet to settle into a rhythm. But the former refugee from Pakistan conceded 18 runs in his two-over spell against the Test skipper Clarke and Warner before being taken out of the attack by captain Matthew Wade.
The 31-year-old Ahmed pitched short as left-hander Warner and right-hander Clarke both scored boundaries to the off side while Clarke also thumped a full toss to the midwicket fence.
Ahmed’s rival for the Test spinner’s role Nathan Lyon claimed two wickets in Victoria’s first innings.
Clarke was looking to add to his half-century in last week’s Shield game against Tasmania.
Warner, with three hundreds in last month’s one-day domestic tournament under his belt but scores of only 21 and 15 against Tasmania, looked in sparkling touch on Thursday.
Test quick Peter Siddle broke through for Victoria in the third over when Nic Maddinson (three) edged a short ball to wicketkeeper Wade.
Scott Henry (13) was caught at deep square leg at 2-59 but Warner continued to score heavily, reaching his half-century off 46 balls including 11 fours.
Test opener Chris Rogers top-scored with a five-hour knock of 88 as Victoria were bowled out at stumps on day one for 236.