Steyn signals warning with fierce spell - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

South African firebrand Dale Steyn produced an intimidating audition on Sunday for Australia's batting hopefuls - his hostile spell of fast bowling at the SCG an ominous warning ahead of this week's Gabba Test.

Described by teammate Jacques Rudolph as Steyn's fastest spell in seven years, the world's No.1 Test bowler terrorised the Australia A top order with a five-over salvo as the SCG clash petered out to a draw.

Liam Davis lasted 11 deliveries before being caught behind for a duck, while Rob Quiney (11 not out) and Phil Hughes - both of whom have entered the frame for a Test call-up in the wake of injuries to Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting - managed to survive before an early stumps was called.

Hughes faced the lion's share of Steyn's 150km thunderbolts in the final hour of play, scoring one run off 27 balls in an innings captain Andrew McDonald described as "the best one not out I've ever seen".

McDonald said Hughes' dogged display was testament to his new-found maturity and hinted it would serve him well should a Test call-up be imminent.

"I hope that Phil Hughes grows a leg from that. He got tested by Dale," McDonald said.

"I thought Rob Quiney did a fantastic job in both innings.

"... I think Dale threw everything at Phil and Phil got through.

"I think that's always a confidence booster going into whatever may lie ahead for Phillip Hughes.

"Dale ramped it up from the first innings.

"I think it was quite evident he was only going to bowl five or six overs so he threw everything at our two batters out there.

"For them to come through that against one of the world's best bowlers is a fantastic effort."

In an ominous sign for Australia's out-of-sorts openers Ed Cowan and Dave Warner, Steyn finished with match figures of 4-58 with eight maidens on the most placid SCG pitch seen in years.

Rudolph said while Steyn's spell was one of the fastest he'd seen, the South African pace attack which also includes Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel needed to be wary of getting too excited at the prospect of a juicy pitch for the first Test.

"What I've heard is that it seams a little bit. It sort of suits us in South Africa - it's the kind of wickets we play on," he said.

"(But) I think for our bowlers, it will be important not to get carried away with the bounce.

"I think the length on those kind of wickets is quite important. We've got to try and settle into that as quickly as possible."

Davis wasn't Steyn's only victim on the final afternoon, with Proteas' wicketkeeper AB de Villiers catching one of his bouncers on the end of his fingers - quickly flinging his glove to the ground and wincing in pain, though he managed to finish the day's play.