Alice Springs, Australia: Cricket Australia Chairman's XI captain Michael Beer won the toss and sent England in to bat on Friday on the opening day of the two-day match in which the forecast high temperature is 37 Celsius (99 Fahrenheit).
Middle-order batsman Ian Bell will captain England with skipper Alastair Cook rested ahead of second Ashes test beginning next Thursday in Adelaide. Australia won the first test in Brisbane by 381 runs.
England included Jonny Bairstow and the uncapped pair of Ben Stokes and Gary Balance. Those three batsmen are expected to contend for a spot in the test side following Jonathan Trott's return home with a stress-related illness.
Fast bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and batsman Kevin Pietersen were also rested by England.
