Scary moment rocks in-form Australian Ashes hopeful

Matthew Wade's stunning bid for Ashes selection was stopped in its tracks after a frightening incident for Australia XI against the England Lions.

Australia XI reached 6-233 to give themselves a 353-run lead and move to the cusp of victory going into the final day of their match with the England Lions.

Opener Marcus Harris smashed a half-century, while Kurtis Patterson (38) and captain Tim Paine (38) had also made important contributions by stumps at Canterbury on Tuesday.

However, Wade suffered a scary moment when he had to retire hurt after being struck on the arm by a Lewis Gregory delivery.

Cricket Australia chief medical officer John Orchard said Wade's precautionary X-ray came back clear, but he was he likely suffering from a bruised nerve.

"Matthew will be reassessed in the morning but it's unlikely he'll bat again in this innings. However, we're very hopeful he'll recover in good time for the Australia-Australia A game next week," Orchard said.

Earlier, Jackson Bird (3-51), Chris Tremain (4-70) and Jon Holland (2-56) helped keep England to a low total with Sam Curran (50) the only notable contributor with the bat.

Harris opened Australia's second innings with a measured 50 from 115 balls, combining for a 76-run stand on the second wicket with Kurtis Patterson (38) after fellow opener Joe Burns was caught by England's Sam Hain off Jamie Porter.

Spinner Jack Leach then managed to dismiss both men with Patterson caught at slip and Harris caught at cover before Ashes hopeful Travis Head was picked out in the gully off Gregory (1-30) for just 12 to push Australia XI from 1-106 at 4-121.

After tea Mitchell Marsh stepped into combine with Paine for 53 in 14 overs to stabilise the visitors' afternoon session.

Eventually Marsh (26) was lbw to Ollie Robinson, while Paine was caught and bowled by Leach, who finished with 3-91.

At stumps, Michael Neser was 20 not out and Tremain was unbeaten on nine.

Wade’s injury scare came after he produced a timely century in the first innings of the match as national selectors prepare to whittle their list of 25 contenders down to a 16-man Ashes squad.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns' panel is well advanced in its planing for the five-Test series that begins at Edgbaston on August 1.

But the next fortnight could yet make or break the dreams of many hoping to be part of Australia's quest for their first Test series win in England since 2001.

Especially those vying to be the reserve paceman and reserve batsman in the touring party that will be named following the unprecedented Australia-Australia A contest, which will feature the nation's 25 best players and start in Southampton on July 23.

The fierce competition for spots heated up in Canterbury earlier in the week, when Wade's 114 helped Australia A reach 4-362 at stumps on day one.

As a walloping Wade shared a 219-run stand with Head, Peter Siddle snared 5-33 from 17 overs in his final county outing before taking part in the Ashes selection trial in Southampton.

Harris is favoured to open with David Warner in the first Test but Cameron Bancroft and Joe Burns are also likely to be considered, while Test incumbents Kurtis Patterson and Marnus Labuschagne are also Wade's rivals in the scrap over spots.

Siddle, Jackson Bird, Chris Tremain and Michael Neser are jostling for one spot in a squad that is certain to feature Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.

"We're going to have some guys that are really unlucky to miss out on this Ashes squad," captain Tim Paine said.

"For the first time in a long time we've got a number of guys in form with both bat and ball.

"The positive of that is the guys who make it will have thoroughly deserved to make it and they're in really good form."

With agencies