Cricket: Australian batting flurry ahead of Ashes

Damien Martyn posted an unbeaten 154 as Australia got a day of batting practice ahead of the first Ashes cricket test against England.

Captain Ricky Ponting (119) and opener Justin Langer (115) helped Australia reach an enormous 582 for seven at stumps on day two of the three-day match against Leicestershire at the Grace Road ground.

Even Jason Gillespie made 49 not out at No 9.

The day-long run spree earned the tourists a 365-run lead over the county side, which was bowled out for 217 inside two sessions.

Leicestershire tried seven bowlers in an attempt to stem the runs, but had little success other than an eight-ball burst in which Ottis Gibson bowled Ponting and David Masters uprooted Simon Katich's off stump.