Australia crumble after Starc's six

Live Scorecard: Essex v Australia

Australia captain Michael Clarke spent some valuable time in the middle during day three against Essex, making a patient 77 as he attempted to spare the blushes of the tourists who struggled to 8-212 at the close of play. 

It was a brilliant fightback from the home side, who themselves lost their final seven wickets for 89 to finish 9-414 after Mitchell Starc ran through the lower order to claim figures of 6-51.

Heading into the final day, Australia lead by 360, with Peter Siddle (13) and Josh Hazlewood (9) the not out batsmen, and it was far from the second innings they'd have hoped for heading into next week's first Test in Cardiff.

David Warner was the first to go, bowled by Jamie Porter for four, before Chris Rogers (32) edged Matt Salisbury behind.

A short time later, Adam Voges (1) and Shane Watson (6) both felt aggrieved to be given out lbw, as the score slipped to 4-76.

First-innings centurion Mitchell Marsh then teamed up with his skipper for a stand of 62, but just as he was looking settled, the allrounder chopped on for 37.

Clarke copped a nasty blow to the hand when on 66, removing his glove and inspecting the damage, but he pressed on and in doing so seemingly removed concern over his health ahead of the Ashes opener.

He was out in the final hour of play, playing back to spinner Aron Nijjar but the ball kept low and bowled him.

Starc was the next man out, picking out Nijjar in the outfield to hand Tom Moore a first wicket.

Earlier, Australia bowled Essex out just prior to the scheduled lunch break but not before copping further treatment.

Quick Single: Day two report

Starc grabbed 4-5 as he sliced through the tail, the highlight being an unplayable yorker that uprooted Matt Salisbury's middle stump.

The left-armer exhibited greater control compared to Thursday, when he started with a loose wide and struggled to make an impact until going around the wicket late.

The visitors' lowlight on Friday came when one of Nathan Lyon's deliveries was smashed over his head, past the grandstand and into the River Can by Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate, who provided Essex's impetus in the morning session with an entertaining 36 from 33 deliveries.

The off-spinner was routinely attacked on a docile pitch and England will likely draw confidence from the success of the tactic, as Lyon finished with the unflattering figures of 0-136 from 22 overs.

Quick Single: Veteran Watson still has plenty to offer Australia

Allrounder Mitch Marsh quickly added a couple of wickets to his case for a Test recall, dismissing captain Ravo Bopara for 107 and former New Zealand Test batsman Jesse Ryder for 10.

Marsh, who scored 169 in the first innings and is in a tight battle with Shane Watson for the allrounder's berth up for grabs in next week's first Test, struck in his fifth and sixth overs.

Both men were out edging, but the double breakthrough failed to curtail the run rate.

Starc removed ten Doeschate with a short delivery that he tentatively edged to keeper Peter Nevill.

Josh Hazlewood was tidy, sending down six maidens in his 21 overs, but largely unthreatening.

It was Hazlewood's maiden first-class game in English conditions and Peter Siddle cautioned it would take some time to adjust.

"It's about learning and all the blokes here know what to do now," Siddle said after day two.

"It was good to ... get the boys used to it and have a chance to see what it's like to bowl in these conditions.

"We're a lot better drilled than we have been in the past ... this series, we'll be on."

Video: highlights from day two

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