Ashes tour match brings up selection dilemmas for Aussies Ton up: Steve Smith celebrates with Ashton Agar after reaching his century during the tour match against Sussex. This Ashes series series has been a soap opera for Australia so far so it was appropriate that the theme tunes of Neighbours and Home and Away rang out from the trumpet of Barmy Army musician Billy Cooper on Sunday afternoon. The man at the centre of the second most notorious ban of the cricket summer in England was shut out of playing at the first Test at Trent Bridge, and then at Lord's, who do not allow any live music or instruments to pass through the gates. Cooper, a trumpeter with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, will be allowed to entertain the masses at the final three Tests of the series, starting this week at Old Trafford, and like the Australians he was at Hove warming up on the last day of the three-day tour match against Sussex. His arrival was well timed as a match destined for a draw petered out into just that before being mercifully called off late on Sunday. By then Australia, batting for a second time, had reached 2-152, following the enforced declaration of Sussex's first innings (there was a 100-over limit) at 7-368. A result was never really the point here, though. Down 2-0 in the Test series, and staring at equalling Australia's worst losing streak in 126 years should they be beaten in Manchester, it was the contents of the practice match that mattered. The conclusions were mixed. There were runs on a good batting wicket for Australia's batsmen at Hove, although given the starts and the conditions not the seriously big score to demand attention. Ed Cowan, standing in as captain, made a pair of half-centuries (66 and 77 not out), the latter compiled in bright sunshine on Sunday. Steve Smith (102 not out) reached three figures. Phil Hughes 84 and 38, out lbw on Sunday after being shuffled to a different spot in the order - this time No.3 - yet again. Usman Khawaja did not make as many (40 and 1), and Matthew Wade made less (0 and 30 not out). But what that all meant was not entirely obvious. The fact that Wade was sent out at No.4 on Sunday afternoon ahead of Smith - who did not bat a second time at all - suggests Smith is, as one would expect, locked into the middle order for Old Trafford. Presuming they stick with openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers - who stayed in London to train instead - selectors must now decide firstly if David Warner's 193 in South Africa grants him a recall and secondly, if they bring him back, who makes way for him. Hughes, unluckily given he is the tour's leading run scorer across all matches and one half of that epic partnership with Ashton Agar at Trent Bridge, is probably the leading candidate. On the bowling side Jackson Bird (2-62) edged Mitchell Starc (2-43) and James Faulkner (1-55), with the two left-armers at times inconsistent in their line and control running down the slope towards the seaside end of the venue. Bird was a revelation in his only two Tests - taking 11 wickets at 16 - and his tour efforts here and at Worcester continue to prove the suspicion correct that his simple but effective style would be suited to conditions in England. Elsewhere, off-spinner Nathan Lyon (1-99) enhanced his chances of returning to the side on Sunday despite the overall figures. Having been knocked around by a free-swinging Rory Hamilton-Brown the day before he picked up a much-deserved wicket on Sunday on a third-day deck not offering much assistance, and on an Old Trafford pitch tipped to turn may well be welcomed back in place of, or alongside, Agar (1-66). A worry, though, was the half dozen dropped chances that let the Australian bowlers down, costing them the opportunity to bowl Sussex out after having them 3-33. James Taylor, the recalled England squad member brought back as cover for Kevin Pietersen, was put down at least twice on the way to his carefully constructed 121 not out. "We had the chance to do that and hold a few chances, which probably cost us in getting through that middle order in this game," Starc said. If we want to be very critical, that's definitely cost us with bowling them out in this game. It definitely helps when you hold your chances. Asked whether he would like to bowl to the vertically challenged Taylor at Old Trafford, Starc replied: "Probably, yes," before adding jokingly: " (I would) try and hit him again." He's a good player. He's scored a few runs and has played Test cricket before," Starc said. He's another player who if he does get the chance to play we'll assess again, but it's nice to have a look at him and how he's going at the moment in this game.