Katich questions warm-up schedule

Simon Katich has questioned Australia's limited preparation for the Test series against Pakistan after the first day of their two-day game against Derbyshire. The match is the only chance for the Australians to adapt to facing the red Duke ball before the first Test at Lord's, which starts on Tuesday, and Katich would have preferred a four-day encounter.

"I honestly don't know why we're playing a two-day match, but there's obviously a reason for it," Katich said after the first day. "It must be the schedule. It's the first time I've been on a tour where we haven't played at least a four-day match, at least one if not two before the Test series. I'm not sure, I haven't asked anyone why."

Australia have been busy with one-day cricket and Twenty20s against England and Pakistan over the past few weeks, and most of the Test players have been involved in those games. Of those who were not in the limited-overs squad, Marcus North has been at home in Perth during the winter and faced only 32 balls in Derby, Ben Hilfenhaus had a decent run during the Australia A series in Queensland and Katich, who made 22, has been playing for Lancashire.

"I feel like it's been good to have gotten over here earlier, even though it wasn't a lot of four-day cricket I got to play one game," he said. "It was better than being at home practising indoors.

"Practising at home, you can't really replicate the same sort of conditions because you have to train indoors because of the weather, and you're facing either the machine or not the same balls. There's only one way, to play in the same conditions with the same balls you're going to cop in a Test match."

But while a two-day game is not ideal ahead of a Test match, Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting made the most of the opportunity by scoring centuries against a Derbyshire attack lacking experience. The second day will be just as important for Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Johnson and Steven Smith, who are likely to form Australia's attack at Lord's.

"It was a good hit-out," Katich said after Australia posted 436. "Most of the guys had a pretty good stint out in the middle, just getting used to facing red balls again. The boys have been facing white ones for the last month. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good and we'll be able to get our full day in the field and give our bowlers a bit of a hit-out as well."