(REUTERS) – Stuart Broad took two wickets in his first over as England made a solid start to their three-day Ashes warm-up match against Western Australia in Perth. The paceman reduced the hosts to 0 for two and added the wicket of Australia Test batsman Marcus North for 19 before lunch but the hosts had rallied to 242 for eight when they declared late in the day.
Alastair Cook was then bowled by Steve Magoffin for five to leave the tourists on 10 for one overnight with skipper Andrew Strauss and nightwatchman James Anderson at the crease.
“I think it went pretty well,” said Anderson, who took a wicket and said he had not been bothered by the rib he broke while boxing in a team-building exercise in September.
“It was a good run out for us bowlers. It was a pretty tough pitch to bowl on because there was not a great deal there once the ball got softer. It was a pretty good day.”
England also play another three-day match against South Australia in Adelaide and a four-dayer against Australia A in Hobart before their Ashes defence begins in Brisbane on November 25.