Australians head for comfortable win in tour opener

Australia are set to launch their Ashes tour with a crushing win over Worcestershire at New Road. By the close they led by 424 runs with six second innings wickets remaining.

The rampant tourists continued their total domination after piling up a 188-run first innings lead and opting to gain further batting practice by not enforcing the follow-on.

Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh and Michael Bevan all took advantage of their chances against a largely second-string Worcestershire attack.

Hayden and Ponting both made 65 with Waugh cracking 48 and Bevan 34.

Hayden and Waugh set the scene for the run bonanza with an opening partnership which yielded 103 in 19 overs.

It finally came to an end when Hayden was bowled by Mathew Rawnsley after stroking ten fours off 63 deliveries. When Ponting finally fell he had blasted one six and 11 fours off 62 balls.

Earlier, six of Worcestershire's wickets had been shared by pacemen Nathan Bracken (3-29) and Glenn McGrath. He picked up 3-31 against his former team-mates who were removed in 63.4 overs for 163.

Worcestershire were particularly grateful to opener Anurag Singh for giving an air of respectability to their score after they had resumed on 50-1.

The 25-year-old made an accomplished 62 to register his maiden first-class half-century for Worcestershire following his winter move from rivals Warwickshire.

Along the way he put on 42 in 14 overs for the fourth wicket with David Leatherdale (22).