BBC SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | England on top in Perth

Tour match, Perth, day one of three (stumps): England 54-0 v Western Australia 213 all out

England enjoyed the best day of their Ashes tour so far as they bowled Western Australia out for 213 and then set off in hot pursuit.

Andrew Caddick took four wickets, including Australian Test opener Justin Langer for 13, as the hosts were cut down to size.

And opening pair Marcus Trescothick and Robert Key played aggressively to reach 50 without loss off just nine overs before stumps.

Trescothick was 21 not out at the close while Key had reached 33 not out off 30 deliveries with five boundaries.

The pair took particular relish in facing Brad Williams, named on Monday in the squad for the first Test.

The pace bowler conceded 25 runs off his first four overs.

Mark Waugh dropped from Test side

England's own young fast men, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones, both took wickets in their maiden first-class match together.

Only Marcus North stood firm for the hosts, striking an unbeaten 71 from 124 balls, including eight fours and a lofted six off Ashley Giles.

But the left-arm spinner had success at the other end, his three victims wiping out the home side's tail.

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Captain Nasser Hussain had no hesitation in deciding to bowl after winning the toss.

And, after a 45-minute rain delay, Caddick made the breakthrough, Langer pushing forward and getting an inside edge straight to John Crawley at short leg.

Marcus North hit an unbeaten 71
He followed up that success by claiming England's second wicket shortly after lunch when Chris Rogers edged behind to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart.

That was the first of three wickets to fall in four overs, Harmison striking when opener Scott Meuleman got a faint edge behind attempting to clip off his hip.

Mike Hussey was the next to fall when he pushed forward and edged Caddick low to Trescothick at third slip for a duck.

And Ryan Campbell's trademark aggressive innings came to an end on 37 when he was taken by Caddick in the deep off Harmison.

Jones, who replaced Matthew Hoggard in the line-up, finally got into the wickets when he had tailender Matthew Nicholson caught at slip.

And Giles' return for a second spell brought immediate results, with the wicket of Brad Hogg lbw for 22.

He then removed Stuart Karppinen and Williams in successive overs.

Craig White was England's only wicketless bowler, making his first appearance of the tour after being called up to replace the injured Andrew Flintoff.

England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Robert Key, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, John Crawley, Alec Stewart, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Andrew Caddick, Simon Jones, Stephen Harmison.

Western Australia: Justin Langer (captain), Mike Hussey, Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Brad Hogg, Stuart Karppinen, Scott Meuleman, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Brad Williams.


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