GEORGETOWN (Guyana), April 7: Brad Hogg and Jason Gillespie boosted their chances of making the Australia team for Thursday’s first Test against West Indies with impressive bowling displays in a warm-up game with a Guyana Board XI on Sunday.

Slow left-armer Hogg, who is battling with Stuart MacGill for the spinner’s job in the absence of the disgraced Shane Warne, captured four wickets for 23 as the Guyana Board President’s XI collapsed to be all out for just 132.

Fast bowler Gillespie, playing his first match for Australia since being sent home from the World Cup with a heel injury, collected two for nine from 13 tight overs, enhancing his chances of a recall after Glenn McGrath went home to be with his sick wife.

Steve Waugh declined the chance to enforce the follow-on after their opponents finished 245 short of Australia’s first innings total of 377-3 declared, deciding instead to give his lower order some valuable batting practice ahead of the first Test.

Reversing the order, the Australians made a slow start but managed to finish the day in a commanding position at 180-8, an overall lead of 425 with a day to go.

Darren Lehmann followed up his first innings of 44 with a tidy 42, while Martin Love — who will be promoted to number four in the Test after Damien Martyn was forced out with a broken finger — posted his second half-century of the match to finish unbeaten on 55.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 377-3 decl (S.R. Waugh 106 not out, M.L. Hayden 102, J.L. Langer 60, M.L. Love 56, D.S. Lehmann 44 not out).