PERTH, Australia: England’s bowlers struggled in an underwhelming start to their Ashes tour in the opening match against a Western Australia Chairman’s XI in Perth yesterday.
The home side, effectively a second-string outfit comprising fringe first-class players with the main state team involved in a domestic Sheffield Shield game, won the toss and chose to bat in the three-day match, reaching 369 for four off 90 overs at the close against a tepid English pace attack.
While England paceman Chris Tremlett, who went wicketless, conceded it was a disappointing day with the ball on an unresponsive pitch, he said there was no cause for concern in the English camp.
“There is no need for panic,” Tremlett said.
“It is the first day, which is the hardest, and it was a massive jump in workload for all of us.
“The most we have bowled in a day is four or five overs for the last week.
“I think we can take something out of today, we all had some good spells at times.
“The main thing is getting the miles in the legs, it is a positive with the guys getting through 17 or 18 overs each.”AFP
