BBC SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | England suffer opening defeat

Hussain is clean bowled by Wilson

ACB Chairman's XI 301-7 beat England 243 by 58 runs

England have lost their opening Ashes tour match to an ACB Chairman's XI in Perth.

It was their first-ever defeat in the traditional warm-up game at Lilac Hill.

They were always up against it when the Chairman's XI notched up a hefty 301-7 in their 50 overs.

Western Australia's Kade Harvey top-scored with 114 off 88 balls and Northamptonshire captain Mike Hussey chipped in with a useful 69.

England got off to a terrible start in reply, down to 11-2 at one stage after Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher had fallen cheaply to Michael Clark.

Harmison had a torrid over

But captain Nasser Hussain and Kent's Robert Key fought back with a 135-run partnership.

But after they were both dismissed, Hussain for 65 and Key for 68, England's middle and lower order folded easily to slump to 243 all out.

They lost their last five wickets for just 33 runs in nine overs.

And to make matters worse, their earlier bowling and fielding display left a lot to be desired.

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison delivered 16 wides - including seven in one over.

Harmison wide of the mark

And Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Caddick also struggled for rhythm.

However England would have been pleased at Simon Jones' return.

He has been out of action for months with a side strain but took a wicket with his first ball in a 2-53 haul.

England: N Hussain (Capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), RWT Key (Kent), MA Butcher (Surrey), JP Crawley (Hampshire), AJ Stewart (Surrey), JS Foster (Essex), AF Giles (Warwickshire), AR Caddick (Somerset), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SJ Harmison (Durham).

Chairman's XI: Michael Hussey (capt), Ryan Campbell (vice-capt), Michael Clark, Kade Harvey, Brad Hogg, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North, Callum Thorp, Kim Hughes, David Hookes, Wayne Clark.

Umpires: B Bennett and A Craig


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