Essex spent the day in the field on Sunday as Australia settled for a draw to get in batting practice ahead of the First Test.

There had been expectation the visitors to the County Ground would declare at lunch giving Essex a second innings.

But despite slow hand clapping from the crowd, Australia went on to take a lead of 743 with Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn keeping the bowlers at bay for the final wicket.

The decision by Gilchrist to keep his team batting also deprived Nasser Hussain the chance to get in further practice before the First Test on Thursday.

Follow this link for more information about ECCC, a live CricketCam web camera, and link to official ECCC site with live scoreboard: Essex County Cricket Club Earlier in the afternoon bowler Peter Such and wicket keeper James Foster helped dismiss Australia's leading run scorers Brett Lee and Ricky Ponting both for 79.

Foster stumped both batsmen.

But with Colin Miller, Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden all scoring half centuries Australia cruised past their first innings total of 405 for 5 to make 569.

Essex's young guns were the only batsmen to offer serious resistance as Australia took a commanding lead on Saturday.

With Essex all out for 231 Australia made 188-2 by the close of play on Saturday.

Graham Napier and England-tipped wicket keeper James Foster were the only batsmen to offer resistance to Australia as Essex were bowled out for 231.

Gillespie was the chief wicket taker for the Australians with figures of 37-5 including the wicket of Nasser Hussain who went for 16.

Foster made 74 before being caught by Gillespie off the bowling of Brett Lee.

On Friday the Chelmsford visitors tore Essex's bowling attack apart before declaring on 405-5 just before 6pm.

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