Nottinghamshire’s James Taylor started his 2015 in the runs, scoring 55 as an England XI brushed aside the ACT Invitational XI in Canberra. 

Taylor,  Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root and Ravi Bopara all passed 50 as England posted 364-6 from their 50 overs, before James Tredwell and Stuart Broad were in the wickets to end the contest after 32.4 overs, the ACT XI all out for 148.

In the first of England’s two warm up matches ahead of their 50-over tri-series against Australia and India, their top order looked incredibly comfortable against an opposition who never really got to grips with the game.

Only captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler lost their wickets for less than 50, while a customary late flourish from Ravi Bopara (56 from 27 deliveries) and Chris Woakes (45 from 27) saw England’s total tick over from competitive to daunting.

Tredwell was the pick of the England bowlers, his three wickets at the expense of just 11 runs, while Stuart Broad showed glimpses of being back to his best, taking two of the middle order to nudge England closer to victory. 

“Sometimes it can be lovely to bowl here, clearly it was quite nice today," Tredwell said.

"A bit of turn and bounce can be good. You just want to get in a position where you can bowl attackingly and that was the key here. I got a couple of early wickets and had to be dragged out of the attack, I was ruining the game.

"Clearly we wanted to get everyone a decent run out and I had to be the one who gave way a bit. It's one of those things. I think I've been bowling pretty well of late and I want to carry it on game to game in this tour.

"Playing these games of 13 or 14 a side you want get everyone a good go and clearly we've done that. Seven or eight of the batters got good time in the middle, there were five fifties and all the bowlers got a few overs under their belt so it's a good way to start the tour."

Despite the ACT Invitational XI including a couple of Cricket NSW batsman, England will expect to face a sterner test in their final warm-up match against a Prime Minister’s XI on Wednesday, before their tri-series begins in earnest on Friday.

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to take in what promises to be an absorbing contest and secure your seat now.