Steve Smith's comeback innings from concussion a fizzer

Derby: Steve Smith's return to competitive cricket was a fizzer as Derbyshire's lack of competitiveness turned Australia's supposed selection trial into an exhibition game.

The former captain batted in uncharacteristically cavalier fashion before holing out for 23, then proceeded to take fast throwdowns from David Warner and assistant coach Sridharan Sriram in an impromptu hour-long net session.

They presumably provided better preparation for the fourth Test than a long innings against a lowly second division county not fielding its best side or bowling their seamers.

"I think if Smudger got 20 or 220, he'd still want to go to the nets and have a hit," Mitchell Marsh, who top-scored with 74, said.

"That's just him and that's why he is the best in the world."

The sting had long gone out of the game when Smith arrived at the crease in the 57th over.

Usman Khawaja and Marcus Harris, the two under the most pressure to keep their place in the Test XI, both made half-centuries, along with Marsh, but it would be wise if selectors based their decision-making for the fourth Test on other evidence.

Chasing Derbyshire's 172, Australia amassed 5/338 in 92 overs then reduced the locals to 3/53 by stumps on the second day. Mitchell Starc claimed two wickets with the new ball in his most consistent spell of the game.

This match was supposed to be a key part of Smith's return to cricket after he was concussed by a bouncer from Jofra Archer but there was little testing of his reflexes against pace bowling. Of the 38 balls he faced, only five came against the seamers.

Smith played several slogs against the Derbyshire spinners, before slicing a leg-break from Matthew Critchley to Hamidullah Qadrideep at deep cover.

Critchley has a first-class average of 52 and now a tale he can exaggerate at sportsman's nights in the decades to come.

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman used eight bowlers, none of whom have international experience, on a pitch doing little.

Harris squandered a chance for a big score after he was run out in a mix up with Khawaja, the man most likely to take his place at the top of the order.

Harris was run out for 64 after a breakdown in communication left both men at the non-striker's end. Harris had called his partner through for a quick single only to receive a late no.

Though Khawaja should have responded earlier, it's hard to argue he did not make the right decision with debutant Dustin Melton throwing down the stumps from point. A more sedate throw to the wicketkeeper would also have achieved the same result.

A run out appeared the most likely mode of dismissal for the Australian openers, who, as expected, proved a class above a struggling second division attack.

Khawaja had the occasional dicey moment but was confident enough to advance down the wicket to Derbyshire's seamers, a tactic he is unlikely to try against Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and co.

The stand-in captain for this game, Khawaja reached his 50 in the second hour of the session, his first half-century since Australia's last tour game, against Worcestershire.