KABIR Ali marked his first appearance of the season with early wicket for Worcestershire in the Vodafone Challenge Series match against Australia which got under way at New Road today.

The-up-and-coming paceman struck to remove Matthew Hayden for 20.

Alamgir Sheriyar followed up soon after when Mark Waugh was caught at mid-off by Anurag Singh for 13 off an attempted drive.

Hayden and Waugh had launched the tourists innings against Kabir and Sheriyar after winning the toss.

Hayden opened his account with a wayward shot which resulted in an edge for four off Sheriyar's first delivery of the match.

Kabir also came in for boundary treatment when his first ball was firmly driven to the rails by Hayden who later in the over survived a loud appeal for a catch behind.

Waugh got off the mark with a single of Sheriyar who was generating a lively pace from the Diglis end.

Shortly after Kabir tempted Hayden into a cover drive which ended with James Pipe, standing in for Steve Rhodes behind the stumps, taking a routine catch.

Ricky Ponting soon signalled his intention by getting his innings underway by hooking Kabir for four. Next ball he confidently off-drove for three.

But Waugh then fell, which brought Michael Bevan to the crease, and after 12 overs they had taken the total to 59-2.

WORCESTERSHIRE: W P C Weston, A Singh, G A Hick, V S Solanki, D A Leatherdale, Kadeer Ali, D J Pipe, Kabir Ali, M J Rawnsley, C G Liptrot, A Sheriyar.

AUSTRALIA: M E Waugh, M L Hayden, R T Ponting, M Bevan, S R Waugh, D R Martyn, A Gilchrist, S K Warne, D W Fleming, N W Bracken, G D McGrath.