England’s lesser lights took care of business against the Prime Minister’s XI as the majority of the Test squad enjoyed a much warmer training session in Brisbane.
As Ben Stokes and company went through their paces at the Gabba nets, doubling down on their decision to miss the pink-ball warm-up match in Canberra, what was effectively an England Lions side featuring a handful of Test-capped players comfortably chased down the hosts’ 8-308 declared.
A day after Aussie opening prospect Campbell Kellaway’s impressive 82, the Poms witnessed 21-year-old James Rew top score with 92* off 123 as they won with eight wickets remaining.
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Jacob Bethell, the lone batter in the side from the England Test squad, was their worst performer posting 16 off 30 while Emilio Gay, Tom Haines and Asa Tribe all posted half-centuries.
Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts, who are in the mix to replace injured quick Mark Wood for the second Test, bowled on Saturday with Potts (2-40) outperforming Tongue (0-48) though the latter improved through his stint.
Wood out of second Test with knee injury | 01:51
Sam Kontas sent down his first professional over as a bowler and, after a first-ball full toss at waist height was dismissed for a boundary, finished 0-6 off the solitary sextet.
Fellow former Test opener Nathan McSweeney had figures of 0-11 off his four overs with the Aussie bowlers as a whole presenting a minimal challenge.
The England Lions will next face Australia A at Allan Border Field in a four-day match beginning on December 5.
The second Ashes Test begins on December 4 from the Gabba.
Konstas caught after promising start | 00:45
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