PERTH, Oct 22: England crashed to a 58-run loss to an Australian invitational side in their opening Ashes tour match Tuesday, with new fast bowler Stephen Harmison suffering the humiliation of delivering 16 wides, including seven in a row.
Harmison’s nerves got the better of him as the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman’s XI put England’s bowlers to the sword, racking up 301 for seven from 50 overs then dismissing the tourists for 243.
Perth pharmacist Kade Harvey made the most of England’s wayward bowling to top score with 114 off 88 balls, featuring 10 boundaries and four sixes, in an impressive display of big hitting on a scorching hot day where the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celcius.
All of England’s bowlers came in for heavy punishment but none so much as Durham’s Harmison, who conceded 42 runs from seven overs which included seven consecutive wides and eight in all in his fourth over.
England’s reply suffered an immediate blow when Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher both departed in the third over, leaving Robert Key (68) and captain Nasser Hussain (65) to help restore some pride with a third-wicket stand of 125.
Worryingly for England, the ACB’s left arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg bagged five for 33.
Scoreboard
ACB CHAIRMAN’S XI:
C. Rogers c Crawley b Jones 30
M. North c Hussain b Hoggard 22
M.E. Hussey c Hussain b Jones 69
R.J. Campbell c Crawley b Giles 14
G.B. Hogg b Giles 0
D.W. Hookes c Key b Giles 10
K. Harvey c T’cothick b Caddick 114
M. Nicholson not out 13
C. Thorp not out 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-24) 29
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 301
FALL OF WKTS: 1-57, 2-69, 3-100, 4-100, 5-126, 6-274, 7-299.