Australia will head for the first Ashes Test with considerable improvements still needed in certain areas.

Australia need improvement in certain areas after the final warm-up game with England Lions at New Road ended in a draw.

The Lions were set a nominal target of 445 in 60 overs after Marcus North's unbeaten 191 had set up the lunchtime closure and they ended on 162 for four with 14 overs remaining.

Ponting pleased with final run-out

It was a good work-out for Ricky Ponting's side and the cricket was intense for the first three days before the tourists opted for batting and bowling practice on the final day rather than to set a challenging declaration.

But Ponting will be aware there as many negatives as pluses to emerge from the four-day fixture.

Opener Phillip Hughes was found wanting against the short ball and twice fell victim to Steve Harmison while Ponting himself will head to Cardiff short of runs after a double failure against the Lions.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz did little to suggest he will be a potential match-winner and part-time slow bowlers North and Michael Clarke may be preferred to fill the role.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson is a near certainty to play but he proved expensive, conceding nearly five runs an over, although he did pick up two wickets with the new ball at the start of the Lions second innings.

The biggest plus was the return to form of Brett Lee who, at 31, is now the senior statesman of the Australian attack.

He demonstrated he has fully recovered from ankle surgery in the winter and used reverse swing to good effect in taking six first innings wickets.

Mike Hussey ended a nine month run without a hundred and added a second innings 50 for good measure while North also found form after managing just 13 runs in his previous three innings.

The Lions can take plenty of credit from their performance in a match which was more competitive than England's meeting with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Harmison made the biggest strides in terms of staking a claim for an Ashes recall although he may have to wait until later in the series as England are contemplating using two spinners at Cardiff.

North: Leave Hughes alone

North and Hussey had taken advantage of the benign pitch to gain further valuable practice before the lunch-time declaration.

North hit 23 fours and one six in his 281-ball innings. He survived one caught and bowled chance when put down by Harmison on 120.

Hussey made an unbeaten 62 before retiring hurt with a sore ankle which he had suffered during the warm-up although it is not a cause for concern.

North and Brad Haddin (25 not out) plundered 73 from 10 overs before the declaration.

Johnson conceded 11 runs in his first over of the Lions second innings but made the first breakthrough when Stephen Moore (16) went for a drive and was caught by Ponting at second slip.

Joe Denly reeled off a series of handsome drives before Johnson struck for the second time when the Kent player on 36 edged through to wicket-keeper Haddin. He was eventually rested after a spell of 9-2-48-2.

Bell, who had made a golden duck in the first innings, made 20 from 63 balls before flicking at a Hauritz delivery and falling to smart catch at short leg by Simon Katich.

It was only Hauritz's second victim of the tour after match figures of one for 158 against Sussex at Hove and nought for 80 in the first innings against the Lions.

Lee again showed his potency in knocking out Vikram Solanki's leg stump with a swinging delivery.