McGrath in ominous form

Glenn McGrath is on the comeback trail ahead of the Ashes summer © Getty Images

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has continued his comeback to cricket with a strong performance for his Sydney club team in the lead-up to the start of Australia's domestic cricket season.

The veteran bowler, who sat out seven months to help his wife battle cancer, took four wickets for his club side Sutherland, while team-mate and potential Test opener Phil Jaques failed to trouble the scorers with a duck.

Simon Katich, whose spot in the Australian side is under pressure from Jaques, made a tidy half-century for his club after having an ordinary string of batting performances in Australia's recent Tri-Nations one-day international tournament with the West Indies and India in Malaysia.

Australia’s number six batsman Michael Clarke also looked good, making 75 for his club team, while Brad Haddin, who was wicket-keeper for the tour of Malaysia, also impressed with a classy half-century.

Michael Clarke will be hoping to stake his claim for the Ashes

Clarke is locked in a battle with batsman Damien Martyn and all-rounder Shane Watson for the number six position in the Australia Test team and will be hoping to show his worth after selector Allan Border said last week that Watson was leading the race for the spot.

Promising up-and-coming batsman Dominic Thornley scored an unbeaten 118, while fast bowling all-rounder Moises Henriques was also in form with the ball, taking 4-35 and 2-21.

Others to impress New South Wales state selectors at the weekend include a trio of spinners.

Newcomers Beau Casson and Nathan Hauritz are in form, both bagging five-wicket hauls in club cricket in Sydney over the weekend, while NSW-contracted off-spinner Jason Krejza has also been taking wickets.

The trio could come into consideration for selection for NSW in the first half of the season when veteran spinner Stuart MacGill is expected to be involved in the Ashes campaign.