Surrey duo Ian Ward and Rikki Clarke both gave the England selectors an early reminder of their abilities by scoring centuries as the county champions began the defence of their title with a draw against Lancashire at The Oval in London.
Ward (158), already capped at Test level by England, and Clarke (127 not out), England's young cricketer of the year last season but yet to make his Test debut, shared a record sixth-wicket stand of 144 that denied Lancashire victory on Monday.
After the visitors piled up a mammoth first innings 599 with hundreds from Australian Stuart Law and Mal Loye, a Lancashire victory was a distinct possibility when Surrey started the final day needing 258 to avoid an innings defeat. But left-hander Ward and Clarke steered Surrey to safety in this four-day encounter.
Sri Lanka paceman Dilhara Fernando will miss Friday's first Test against New Zealand because of a back strain. The hosts will not announce their team until the morning of the match, and have not even named a squad from which to select.
The only certainty is Hashan Tillakaratne will captain the side for the first time after Sanath Jayasuriya's resignation. Mahela Jayawardene, dropped for the Sharjah tri-series, will hope to have done enough to re-claim a Test berth after scoring a century in a side-game against the Kiwis on Saturday.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have an injury worry of their own. Scott Styris was affected by a shoulder injury after bowling two overs in Saturday's match.
Steve Waugh passed up the opportunity to join in Australia's run feast because his concentration had waned from sitting for too long in the team dressing room.
Waugh did not appear in his customary No.5 position or a spot below as the visitors surged to a commanding 4-576 declared against a pop-gun West Indies attack on a flat Queen's Park Oval. Instead, the veteran skipper decided to unleash Adam Gilchrist at No.5 with 20 minutes of play remaining on day one and later used the inexperienced Brad Hogg at No.6 just after lunch on day two as the tourists prepared to declare.
A team spokesman said the reason behind Waugh's non-appearance was because his "concentration had waned" and added the webbing on his left hand that he split in the first Test last week was not a factor.
Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill claimed his 100th Test wicket in bizarre circumstances as Australia remained in control of the second Test against the West Indies in Trinidad. At tea on the third day, the Windies were 7-367 in their first innings with Marlon Samuels (63 not out) batting through the middle session to push the home team within 10 runs of avoiding the follow-on. MacGill (1-82) struck in the final over before tea when Windies debutant Carlton Baugh smashed his stumps with his bat while attempting a cut shot.
The dismissal followed West Indies captain Brian Lara's demise in the first Test when he hit his stumps following through from a shot against Brad Hogg.
MacGill reached the 100-wicket milestone in his 21st Test - a rate bettered by only three Australian bowlers.
