England's Ian Bel The Cricket Australia Chairman's XI won the toss and sent England in to bat on the opening day of the two-day tour game at Alice Springs on Friday. Ian Bell will captain the tourists in the only lead-up game to next week's second Test in Adelaide.
Bell is one of only five players backing up from England's 381-run loss to Australia in last weekend's opening Ashes Test in Brisbane along with Matt Prior, Michael Carberry, Joe Root and Graeme Swann.
Selectors will be having a close look at their options to fill the vacant Test number three spot after the return home of Jonathan Trott with a stress-related illness.
Temperatures in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory were forecast to reach 36C (97F) on Friday.
Teams:
CA Chairman's XI - Marcus Harris, Steve Cazzulino, Michael Hill, Alex Keath, Jake Doran, Ashton Turner, Luke Robins, Josh Lalor, Jayde Herrick, James Muirhead, Michael Beer (capt).
England: Michael Carberry, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Matt Prior, Ben Stokes, Ian Bell (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin, Monty Panesar.
Umpires: Simon Fry, Mick Martell (both AUS)
Match Referee: Sean Easey (AUS)
Source: AFP