Stoneman hits first Ashes Tour ton

Cook regains form as England at 337 for 3 at close

England captain Joe Root (left), and David Malan (right), run between the wickets on the second day of a four-day Ashes tour match against Cricket

Australia XI at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville on Nov 16. (AFP)

TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Nov 16, (AFP): Mark Stoneman scored the first century of the Ashes tour as Alastair Cook regained form in England’s match against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville on Thursday.

The in-form Surrey left-hander cracked 111 off 159 balls and shared in a 172-run opening stand with former skipper Cook as the tourists clubbed their way to 337 for three at the close on the second day of the four-day game.

In the final warm-up game ahead of next week’s Ashes Test series opener against Australia in Brisbane, Cook finally found some batting form with 70 off 127 balls after a run of low scores.

At stumps, captain Joe Root was unbeaten on 62 with Dawid Malan on 57 to cap a pleasing day for the English against a lightweight CA XI bowling attack.

Regardless of the strength of the inexperienced bowling opposition, England’s batsmen spent precious time out in the middle ahead of the first Gabba Test, starting on Nov 23.

Coach Trevor Bayliss had said after England’s thumping 192-run victory over the CA XI in Adelaide last week that his batsmen had to score big.