Alice Springs, Australia: England test aspirants Jonny Bairstow and the previously uncapped and Zimbabwe-born Gary Ballance top-scored for the tourists in their 212-7 declared on the first day of a two-day match against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.
Sent in to bat, England slumped to 149-6 on Friday before Bairstow (31 not out) and Graeme Swann (29) added 49 for the seventh wicket.
In reply, the home side reached 16-0.
Ballance, who represented Zimbabwe at World Cup level aged 16, was run out for 55 after a mix-up with acting captain Ian Bell.
Regular skipper Alastair Cook was rested ahead of the second Ashes test beginning Thursday in Adelaide, as were pacemen Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, plus Kevin Pietersen.
