England got what they wanted from their first tour match in Australia according to James Tredwell, whose three cheap wickets aided a facile win.
The tourists used 13 of their 15 squad players in victory by 216 runs over an Australian Capital Territory XI, an inexperienced team featuring a 16-year-old leg-spinner and just one state player.
Off-spinner Tredwell, who returned 3-11 from four overs, was one of seven bowlers used as the hosts were dismissed inside 33 overs at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
Seven was also the number of England batsmen who enjoyed significant time in the middle, five of the top six registering fifties.
Ravi Bopara was the last to do so, his 56 occupying just 27 balls and massaging an unbroken stand of 105 with Chris Woakes in only 50 deliveries.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, Tredwell said:“Clearly that’s what we’re trying to get out of this game is to trying to get as many people a go as we can. We got that and I think most people did pretty well today.”
He added: “Everyone’s had a decent time in the middle and then to bowl a side out and get miles in the legs is a pretty good start for us.”
The new opening partnership of Ian Bell and Moeen Ali were half-centurions along with James Taylor and Joe Root, although all the top four fell in the 50s.
Perfect start for @ECB_cricket in Aussie...
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 12, 2015
“I’m sure there are some of those guys who would have wanted to go on, but for that many of our team to get good time in the middle, even the likes of Woakesy to get good time in the middle and strike them so well, is great signs for us,” Tredwell said.
Tredwell’s three scalps came in his first two overs, both maidens, led to him being temporarily withdrawn from the attack.
His impressive display leaves England’s premier spinner encouraged ahead of the second and last warm-up game for the Tri-Series, at the same venue versus a Prime Minister’s XI on Wednesday, also because fit-again pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowled seven overs each.
“There was a little bit of turn and bounce,” he explained.
“Sometimes you get those days where you get a couple early. Other days it can go the other way.
“I got three or four overs under my belt and like most of the bowlers we’ve got a few overs under our belts now, (so we’re) going into the next game looking forward to it.”