Kellaway tames England XI to prove his Test potential

PM Anthony Albanese may have missed his side face the England XI because he was getting married, but Test selectors will have liked Campbell Kellaway's 82

Campbell Kellaway has offered a glimpse of why he is regarded as a future Australian Test opener, with an eye-catching 82 for the Prime Minister's XI against England.

One year after Sam Konstas forced his way into the Test side with a century for the Prime Minister's XI, Kellaway threatened to make a similar score on Saturday.

But while his hopes of a century were ended with a superb one-handed reflex catch by Tom Haines at first slip, Kellaway still impressed at Manuka Oval.

The Victorian's runs helped the PM's XI declare at 8-308, before what is effectively an England Lions side went to stumps 0-30 against the pink ball.

Kellaway's runs are unlikely to have been seen by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday, given he was marrying his partner Jodie Haydon at the time.

But they will not have gone unnoticed by Australian selectors, with Kellaway this month labelled a ready-made Test player by Victoria coach Chris Rogers.

With England opting not to use the match as a warm-up game for the day-night second Test in Brisbane, Kellaway's runs still came against an attack that included Test-capped bowlers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts.

Kellaway hit Tongue for two boundaries early behind backward square, and took on England left-armer Josh Hull when the tourists went short to him in the second session.

He hooked Hull for one six, cut him for another and hit a cracking pull shot to the boundary as he took 24 runs off two overs from the quick.

There was one chance when James Rew put Kellaway down on 22 at slip in the first session.

Kellaway's 82 followed a half-century against an NSW attack of Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood earlier this month, when he endured a roughening-up from Starc.

It was that innings that prompted Rogers to label Kellaway the long-term successor to Usman Khawaja as Australia's Test opener.

Meanwhile, Konstas had shown good signs early for the hosts in Canberra on his way to 36, with his shot of the day a drive to the long-on boundary off Tongue.

But any hopes of repeating last year's century ended when he used his feet to Haines and skied the spinner to mid-on, one ball after clipping the Englishman to the mid-wicket boundary.

Nathan McSweeney also hit 63 for the hosts and young prodigy Oliver Peake 54, before both were dismissed by Potts (2-40) in quick succession.

Potts was the pick of the tourists' bowlers, with he and Tongue vying to replace the injured Mark Wood in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.

“THE SLEEP-DEPRIVED STRUGGLE”: Love Is Blind’s Lauren and Cameron Hamilton OPEN UP about the reality of parenthood, confessing the SEVERE SLEEP DEPRIVATION is testing their bond and causing UNEXPECTED TENSION

Love Is Blind's most enduring couple, Lauren Speed-Hamilton and Cameron Hamilton, have finally welcomed their first baby, Ezra, after a four-year fertility journey. While the joy is "surreal," the new parents have been honest about the immediate, jarring reality of life with a newborn, confessing that the severe sleep deprivation is making the adjustment "rough."

Although they have not publicly stated that the struggle is directly "testing their bond" or causing "unexpected tension," they have openly acknowledged the challenges of sleepless nights and late-night routines, a situation that inevitably puts pressure on any marriage.

The Sleepless Nights Confession

Lauren and Cameron welcomed their son, Ezra William Hamilton, on October 1. Immediately after the birth, the couple spoke candidly about the difficult adjustment to parenthood:

"It's Been Rough": Lauren confessed the exhaustion is a severe struggle, stating, "I'm not gonna lie, it's been rough adjusting to the late-night diaper changes and feedings."

The New Reality: Cameron echoed the sentiment, noting that the reality of their new life is setting in: "It still feels surreal that we have a son after four years of trying to conceive... That said, the 4 a.m. feedings and diaper changes have definitely made it feel more real. I'm grateful for it all."

Bond Strengthened, Not Tested

Despite the challenges of SEVERE SLEEP DEPRIVATION, the couple has insisted that the experience is actually strengthening their bond, rather than creating the UNEXPECTED TENSION commonly faced by new parents.

Support and Connection: Speaking about their difficult fertility journey leading up to the birth, Lauren stated that the process "made us feel more connected," adding, "I think we support each other and we're more in tune now... I think it's actually made us stronger."

Sticking to a Schedule: They revealed their strategy for navigating the chaotic newborn phase: "Sticking to a schedule as much as we can" helps them manage the demands, showing they are focused on teamwork to overcome the struggle.

For the couple, who waited four years and endured a painful fertility journey, the exhaustion is a welcome side effect, allowing them to remain focused on the "blessing" of their son rather than the "tension" of their circumstances.

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