Aussies cop cheeky scoreboard sledge at first Ashes venue

Edgbaston officials have seemingly fired an early strike at Australia in the Ashes – but not in the form of a swinging, seaming green top.

Australia took to the ground on Monday afternoon for an intense training session just three days out from the first Test.

The practice run ended on a sour note as David Warner sending a scare through the camp when he injured his knee.

That came after it began under the watchful eye of a painful memory.

Journalists arriving at the ground for England’s morning session were welcomed by a scoreboard detailing the hosts’ Cricket World Cup semi-final victory over Australia.

England comfortably accounted for their Ashes rivals in the final four on their way to winning the trophy in dramatic circumstances.

While it is unclear if the result stayed on the scoreboard all day, the cheeky sledge certainly wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by the Australians.

After all, it wasn’t even the last game played at Edgbaston – multiple T20 Blast matches have taken place since the semi-final on July 11.

Pictures of the scoreboard before training went viral and English fans, including the Barmy Army, revelled in the mind games.

Some thought it was fitting revenge after Cricket Australia’s widely criticised podium after the 2017-18 Ashes series.

Injury cloud hovers over star batsman

Usman Khawaja stepped things up with sharper running between the wickets as he bids to be passed fit for the first Ashes Test.

Khawaja, desperate to return on Thursday, has been racing the clock since tweaking his hamstring on July 6 in what proved a costly World Cup loss to South Africa.

The batsman was already moving freely and running without restriction but, up until Monday's session, had yet to attempt sprinting at peak intensity.

Khawaja grabbed his bat and ran a series of twos during the fitness test, with support staff clocking his times.

The left-hander, speaking prior to getting through the session, suggested sprinting at peak intensity was the only remaining box he must tick to be considered for the first Test.

"If I do that then I think I'll be available for selection," Khawaja told reporters.

"That will probably be the last level of running I have to do, the highest level.

"I've done most of the stuff ... running components and strength hamstring stuff in the gym.

"I'm just about running at full speed now ... the hammy's good, very good."

Khawaja was forced to miss Australia's intra-squad match in Southampton but took part in a centre-wicket session last Thursday, including some slow-paced running between the wickets with Tim Paine.

Coach Justin Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns may yet make a conservative call on Khawaja, leaving him to return in a lower-stakes tour game against Worcestershire that follows the first Test.

But Paine is already satisfied that Khawaja will be ready for the five-Test series opener.

"He's going to be fit and available for selection," Paine said last Thursday.

with AAP