England dominate in final warm-up

England XI 523 and 0 for 11 beat Australia A 230 and 301 (White 111, Hughes 81, Bresnan 4-86, Panesar 3-63, Tremlett 3-67) by 10 wickets


With still a third of England's warm-up games to play England have decided to effectively name four of their starting eleven over a week before the 'real' Test begins by sending their youthful trio of seamsters and world-class cherry tweaker up to Brisbane for a hard-earned net. In their absence England's batsman were instead joined by four back-up all eager to stake their claim should Messrs Flower and Strauss choose to make changes during the five match campaign.


Strauss called correctly and gave his new look attack the first opportunity to exploit what looked a lively surface. Chris Tremlett, who has undergone a cricketing rebirth since his move from Hampshire to Surrey last summer, took the new ball and was first to strike, drawing Phil Hughes into a defensive poke high outside his off stump edging to keeper Matt Prior. Tremlett carrying where Andrew Flintoff left off in 2009 exposing Hughes with the shorter ball, a frailty he will have to overcome if he is to feature this winter.


Ajmal Shahzad who has been on the fringe of the England setup for much of year joined forces with Tremlett and together they caused havoc on a pitch that was doing just enough. Shahzad was justly rewarded with the wicket of Test hopeful Usman Khawaja having beaten the outside edge on numerous occasions and spitting some Sidebottom-esque banter at the hapless Aussies for good measure.


Tim Bresnan came on as first change and despite looking the least threatening soon joined in the fun catching Callum Ferguson on his crease with a ripsnorter that barely feathered the outside edge. Exactly five overs later and  Bresnan had Monty Panesar to thank for his second wicket of the morning. Opener Ed Cowan who had quietly trundled to 31 pulling a short ball in the air only for the Monster to pull off a blinding catch with his right paw, naturally he took the plaudits.


When Tremlett had captain Cameron White bowled for 5 through the gate the hosts found themselves tottering at 58 for 5 and in danger of complete capitulation. However wickie Tim Paine and allround Steves, Smith and O'Keefe, provided some steadfast lower order resistance, both Smith and O'Keefe passing fifty ensuring Australia posted a respectable 230. Aptly it was Tremlett and Shahzad who finished most impressively, the former bagging four wickets, while the Yorkshireman claimed three victims at an economy of well below three.


Seven overs at the tail end of the day against the England captain and his deputy was an unlikely consolation for Australia A, and the prized wicket of Andrew Strauss made sure the hosts had something to build upon on day two.


Nightwatchman Panesar removed Australia's bowlers had less luck on the second morning Cook soon passing fifty to back up his unbeaten century in Adelaide. But a mini-collapse (don't say it too loudly!) in the afternoon that accounted for Cook, Trott and Pietersen left England teeering at 137 for 5.


As it turned out Australia A claimed their sixth wicket over 60 overs and 240 runs later as the tourists took complete control of the match. It was England middle order stalwarts Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood who exacted most of the damage, the former batting his way to a hefty 192 and effectively rubbishing any chances of an Australian victory.


Bell is a changed man nowadays, no blond highlights, ripped jeans or cocky swagger and most importantly a departure from the school boy inhibitions about technique and in its place a new found thirst for runs. He still compiles his innings in meticulous fashion however, watchful early on punishing the bad ball, and later on able to rotate the strike and find pockets in the field to keep the board ticking over, truly a joy to behold.


Bell and Collingwood guided England through to the close of play Bell having passed his ton with consummate ease and Collingwood not out on 74 within sight of the three figures that alluded him against South Australia in the previous game. 

Resuming on 335 for 5 the destructive duo added a further 42 runs before Collingwood edged behind to Paine trying to pull Clint McKay falling 11 runs short of a century. Bell powered on past 150 partnered by keeper Matt Prior (27) and Tim Bresnan (36) and was eventually caught at cover eight short of a double century. The Warwickshire batsman came to the crease at 137 for 5 and left with his team in complete command at 487 for 8, his contribution a testament to Bell's renewed importance to the England team over the past 18 months leaving the likes of Eoin Morgan to carry drinks around cricket grounds the world over.


Chris Tremlett was eventually caught at mid off trying to clear the ropes but not before England had passed 500, eventually bowled out for what at a day ago seemed an unlikely 523.


After a marathon 141 overs in the field the Australians could be forgiven for a slight lapse in concentration when returning to the crease on day three to try and make a dent into what was now a potentially match-winning deficit of 293. And after a promising start led by a determined Hughes England broke through thanks to the wiley arm of Tim Bresnan forcing Cowan into dragging on. The very next ball and Australia were two down and Bresnan on a hat-trick, Khawaja edging low to Prior behind the stumps to leave the hosts delicately poised on 66 for 2.


The Yorkshireman failed to complete a hat-trick but did take his tally to three six overs later, Callum Ferguson bowled for 10 and capping off a disappointing match for the South Australian. The arrival of Cameron White sparked a mini-recovery for the home side with White and opener Hughes sharing a stand of 101 for the fourth wicket. But is was Tremlett's extra lift that again proved Hughes' undoing, Strauss taking a sharp chance at first slip to send the left-hander on his way for a gritty 81.


However his departure marked the beginning of the end for Australia A who capitulated in the face of what was now inevitable defeat. Paine and Smith managed just two runs between them as Tremlett laid down a marker for his fellow second-string compatriots. Monty Panesar made useful contributions knocking over the tail and giving himself a much-needed confidence boost.


Amongst the carnage White remained imperious passing fifty and soon a hundred with relative ease proving his repertoire extends well beyond the hustle and bustle of limited overs cricket. The Aussies eventually crept over 300   but a lead only 10 runs meant 9 balls into England's second innings and Strauss' team had completed a comfortable victory over a team of talented international cricketers.


The 'real' Test is now in sight for England and if the last three weeks are anything to go by on then it has been a near perfect pom performance thus far...

Cook hits timely ton in England draw

South Australia 221 & 2 for 48 drew with England XI 8 for 288 dec & 1 for 240 dec (Cook 111*, Strauss 102)

An uncanny ability to rescue an international career from troughs of unimaginably poor form with match-winning knocks under the most immense pressure has epitomised Alastair Cook's cricket over the last two years. While his neck may not quite have been on the line in this second warm-up game against South Australia, England confidently opting not to bolster their squad with a third opening batsman, it would be hard for any England fan who has followed the Essex stroke maker this summer to say with some conviction that a solitary ton amongst a handful of failures is enough to ensure a return to the consistency that typified his first year as a Test match batsman.

Three days earlier Cook had been given his first chance to silence the critics, England winning the toss and electing to bat first. But after an assured start he decided to delay his batting epiphany for another two days and instead gift Peter George his third wicket of the day to reduce the visitors to 63 for 3 on the opening morning. Kevin Pietersen soon followed caught off the bowling of Queensland paceman Ben Edmondson by the magnificently named Aiden Blizzard leaving England in need of some plucky resistance in the afternoon session - enter Paul Collingwood.

An uncharacteristically fluent innings from Collingwood on the ground where he crafted his highest ever Test score guided England to 226 for 4 before, six runs short of a hundred, he edged a Jake Haberfield delivery to a grateful Callum Ferguson in the gully. Ian Bell powered on for another six and a half overs taking his side past 250 and himself past 50, and with a declaration now imminent Matt Prior and Graeme Swann chipped in with brisk cameos to propel England to 288 for 8 declared in just over 78 overs. In turn Strauss was afforded the luxury of unleashing his trio of youthful seamers on a weary South Australian opening pair, but some steadfast defensive play ensured the home side suffered no casualties come the close of play.

Day two began promisingly for England, Stuart Broad making the breakthrough at the end of his second over of the morning drawing James Smith into edging the ball through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. James Anderson then bagged opener Daniel Harris with the first ball of his over to make it two wickets in two balls for the tourists. A spirited South Australian middle order fightback kept them afloat until Michael Klinger wofted his bat at a James Anderson delivery only to spew the ball into the grateful hands of Kevin Pietersen and spark a mid-innings collapse.


Anderson continued his impressive work removing wickie Graham Manou for 0, but it was England's premium tweaker Graeme Swann who caused the most damage taking four of the final five wickets to skittle the state side out for a lowly 221 and finish with figures of 22.4 overs, 4 for 68. 


England returned to the middle for the majority of the evening session to cap off an impressive day for the touring side. Strauss and Cook taking England to 94 without loss at stumps and a lead of 67 going into the final day. The captain was in particularly imperious form hitting three sixes and five fours in his 56 not out, reaching his fifty at almost a run a ball. With Cook and Pietersen now in competition for least-assured batsman in world cricket, Strauss's new-found penchant for the boundary rope and even the spectators stand has provided fans with renewed optimism as to the dynamism of England's top order.


There was little respite for the home side come day three too and Cook and Strauss both kicked on at a pace. As Cook passed fifty Strauss was closing in on another century making light work of the South Australia attack hitting the ball to all parts. His inevitable century was only marred by a switch dismissal shortly after, but 102 from just 121 deliveries meant his Strauss's innings was sure to be the talking point well beyond the stands in Adelaide.

Backed up by Jonathan Trott, Cook too cashed in on the final day and his 111 not out, including 18 fours and a six, will have gone some way to relieving the pressure that had begun to build after scores of 5, 9 and 32 in his three innings on the tour so far.


A rain interrupted afternoon meant England's bowlers were unable to forge any hopes of a victory, but two wickets for Jimmy Anderson proved once again that the man from Burnley may well have a bigger part to play in this series than some narrow-minded critics are suggesting.


All in all a very worthwhile outing for what appears to be still a very polished pom outfit. Every bowler grabbed a scalp despite limited opportunities and England were a class apart with the willow. A slight concern still hangs over Kevin Pietersen who was denied a second bite at the cherry this time around, and one can only hope that the frighteningly predictable nature of Alastair Cook's batting record does not become the subject of some smart-arse statistic relayed by one of Sky Sports' increasing smug Hollywood Elite!

England 'tick all the boxes' in Ashes warm-up

England XI - 8 for 223 dec. and 4 for 243 (Strauss 120*) beat Western Australia - 8 for 242 dec. and 223 (Swann 4-101, Broad 2-26) by six wickets

A tortuous beginning to the summer has left the Aussies with only a solitary victory so far in the build up to the Ashes later this month. Defeat by India in the Test and One Day series was swiftly followed by defeat to Sri Lanka in the only Twenty20 International and the first two One Day games of the three match series between the two sides, their only respite a dead-rubber win in the third ODI. Little consolation with Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakarra declaring his team's win as the finest in his tenure as captain.

Much to the dismay of Messrs Clarke and Ponting, England completed a convincing victory over Western Australia in their opening warm-up game, with captain Strauss on top form batting through England's second innings to cash in with 120 not out and see his side to victory in style.

England lost the toss and were asked to field first. With Jimmy Anderson the only surviving bowler from the last Ashes tour Down Under, it was up to the youthful pairing of Steven Finn and Stuart Broad to get to grips with the traditionally less forgiving Kookabura ball. In only the second over of the day however Broad, who has had a glorious summer with bat and ball, found himself on a hat-trick after dismissing opener Liam Davis and Michael Swart for a duck, both men guiding their shots into the safe hands of the English slip cordon.

Broad soon added another victim to his tally prising out captain Marcus North for 19 after some dogged resistance. Finn, Anderson and Graeme Swann all chipped in with a wicket a piece and the evergreen Paul Collingwood proving his continual importance to England's chances abroad, extracted the home side's two settled batsmen, catching Wes Robinson off his own bowling for 62 before running out the dangerous Adam Voges on 72.

Western Australia declared on 242 for 8 giving England a tricky six overs to bat before the close of play, and unfortunately for the visitors Alastair Cook fell victim to the late pressure when he was bowled off the midriff by Steve Magoffin for 5, with England due to resume on 10 for 1 in the morning.

Day two brought mixed fortunes for Strauss's men who struggled to take a firm hold on the game. After the loss of Cook the previous evening, the England top order failed to crack on and  were undone by the seam and spin of the struggling domestic outfit. Magoffin bagging Strauss to claim the scalp of both the openers, before Trott was once again snuffed out by spin, caught behind off the bowling of Michael Beer.

Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior failed to make it to double figures and with Kevin Pietersen going well at the other end Ian Bell was also unable to give any sustained support departing for 21 from 42 balls. It was left to Broad to reclaim some dignity for the touring side and he ably accompanied Pietersen, both men passing fifty and taking England past 200. A late order cameo of 37 from 25 balls from Graeme Swann that included six boundaries ensured the hosts lead was only 19 at the halfway stage.

But useful contributions from Davies, Robinson and Swart meant that Western Australia closed on 109 for 1, 90 ahead of England with only a day left to play.

Day three brought about a renewed sense of purpose for England, and although a draw seamed the most likely result with just 90 overs in the day four wickets from Graeme Swann ably backed up by Finn and Broad saw the hosts lose their final nine wickets for a meager 93 runs and set up an intriguing fourth innings run chase.

The early loss again of Cook did not prove as disastrous this time around as Strauss provided the backbone to a enterprising display from England's top six. Three of the five bowlers used by captain North had economy rates above five and Jonathan Trott was the only England batsman to score his runs at a strike rate less than fifty, Bell and Pietersen scoring at more than a run a ball.

Strauss proved no slouch too, and his unbeaten 120 came from just 140 balls including 15 fours and a six, his hard work in the one day game recaptured magnificently into the longer format. England completed the chase within 50 overs claiming a six wicket victory and with it their first win of the tour, an enviable result for all Australians whose preparation for this year's Ashes has not begun quite so smoothly.