Caddick revives England after dismal start in Perth

England had Andrew Caddick to thank for pulling them out of the mire on the first day of their warm-up match against Western Australia at Perth. Joined by Matthew Hoggard with England on 126 for 8, Caddick made an unbeaten 62, his highest score for England, to extend the total to a more respectable 221. At the close the hosts were three for no wicket in reply.

After winning the toss at the WACA this morning, Michael Hussey put England in to bat on a surface with a touch of green. Callum Thorp, a former Perth window cleaner, made the first breakthrough, trapping Robert Key lbw for four in the second over, and he then took a good return catch to send back Mark Butcher for seven.

Nasser Hussain, chasing a wide ball outside the off stump, was the first of four victims for wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi. Three overs later he had his second, when John Crawley pushed forward tentatively at the left-arm pace bowler Michael Clark to depart for a duck.

That was the last wicket before lunch, but Marcus Trescothick's resistance ended shortly after the interval, when, on 46 (107 balls, eight fours), he edged South Australia's Paul Wilson low to Hussey at first slip.

Alec Stewart, no stranger to Perth, held the bowlers at bay until, on 42 (87 balls, six fours), he was caught behind pushing at Clark. England managed just 53 runs in the middle session as they struggled for survival. James Foster resisted stoutly for 88 minutes before he was bowled by Beau Casson, Australia's under-19 left-arm leg-spinner, for 11 just before tea, and Ashley Giles became Thorp's fourth victim when he also edged behind.

That was the low point for England, but Caddick then teamed up with Hoggard in a 79-run partnership that was full of resolve. Hoggard made 33 from 80 balls, including four boundaries, before he was bowled by Wilson, who then had Steve Harmison caught at point to end England's innings. Caddick's unbeaten 62 eclipsed the 49 he made against Australia at Edgbaston last year, and included eight fours and a six over mid-wicket off Casson.