Cook fails but England shine
NEW DELHI: Alastair Cook had a horror start to his Ashes tour as he fell for a second-ball duck in the two-day practice game against Western Australia XI in Perth on Saturday. However, England , after electing to bat, pulled things back as they reached 349/6 at stumps.
The former England skipper has now been dismissed twice in the last three deliveries he has faced at the WACA, after his first ball duck to Ryan Harris in the 2013-14 Ashes series, which Australia swept 5-0. Cook edged a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery playing on the back foot to wicketkeeper Calum How.
FIGHTING KNOCKS
Mark Stoneman and No 3 James Vince -- who averages less than 20 in seven Tests -- then played sensibly and brought up their halfcenturies.
Both batsmen were able to score freely, hitting 28 fours between them in a second-wicket partnership of 153. Stoneman scored 85 while Vince, who’s selection sparked criticism after his poor show in Tests last year, hit 82 off just 129 balls.
Vince was dropped thrice, on 47, 63 and 67, twice at slip by Coulter-Nile and once at mid-wicket from a pull.
Skipper Joe Root fell cheaply as England were left reeling at 184/4. Root looked annoyed when he was given out caught behind when it looked like the ball had flicked his leg.
But Dawid Malan (56) and Gary Ballance (51), who are seemingly battling for one spot in the Test line-up, shared another three-figure stand (104) before Jonny Bairstow (36*) and Chris Woakes (27*) played out the remaining overs.
Coulter-Nile, who finished the day with 1/43 off 16 overs, is attempting to force his way into the Australian squad for the first Test. This is England’s first of three warm-up games ahead of the opening Test, starting in Brisbane on November 23.
Moeen Ali and Steven Finn have been ruled out of the opening two tour games due to injuries. All-rounder Moeen is nursing a side strain while Finn injured his left knee while batting in the nets on Thursday.
England suffered a big blow ahead of the tour when Ben Stokes was indefinitely suspended after being involved in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub. Stokes is awaiting the outcome of a police probe, but still has an outside chance of joining the tour.