Shaun Tait stormed into first Test calculations with a withering fast bowling performance as England succumbed to a 166-run defeat in their opening Australian Ashes tour match here Friday.
The tourists' bowlers were hammered for a record 347 for five by a Prime Minister's XI off 50 overs and in reply England were skittled for just 181 off 38.4 overs. It was a worrying performance with the first of the five Ashes Tests, in Brisbane, just 13 days away.
"On previous tours we have started slow and we've been beaten in warm-up games and we've bounced back quick," England captain Andrew Flintoff said. "Today was a one-day game and we're not going to get too despondent about it. Next week we have the (three-day) NSW (New South Wales) game, a longer form, and then we have the South Australia game.
"We know we have to improve and we'll do that next week before the first Test in Brisbane." Tait, little used in his two Tests in last year's Ashes series, threw down his challenge for Australia's third fast-bowling slot behind Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee at the Gabba with explosive figures of 3-21 from eight overs.
The South Australian slinger worked up a full head of steam and claimed the prized wicket of Flintoff for one off three balls. Big-hitting Kevin Pietersen fell for seven.
The day began poorly for England, with opener Phil Jaques leading the charge with 112 off 110 balls after the PM's XI was sent into bat by Flintoff. It was the highest score by a PM's XI against a touring side in the national capital, surpassing the 334 for 5 against India in 1999 and one totally beyond England Friday.
Only vice-captain and Middlesex opener Andrew Strauss looked the part with some sweetly timed shots before he went for 67. Opener Marcus Trescothick faced just three balls before he edged Tait to second slip for two and Alastair Cook mis-timed a pull shot to top-edge Ben Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Tim Paine for four.
Paul Collingwood looked set before he found Jaques at deep mid-wicket off leg-spinner Cameron White for 35, putting on 58 for the third wicket with Strauss. Pietersen perished to an ill-judged hook shot, top-edging Hilfenhaus to Paine for seven before Tait bowled Flintoff two balls later.
Flintoff was beaten by Tait's sheer pace to have his stumps spread-eagled. Earlier, Test opener-in-waiting Phil Jaques gave Australian selectors more food for thought with an impressive century.
Jaques, who has the obstacle of long-time incumbents Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden blocking his way into the Australian Test team, hit nine boundaries and two sixes in his breezy knock off 110 balls.
Flintoff, looking for a solid bowling stint to fully test his ankle, was the pick of England's wayward bowlers with 1-55 off 10 overs after conceding just 10 runs in his first five overs. Lancashire fast bowler Anderson looked ineffective, going for 1-65 off 10 overs while seamer Sajid Mahmood had major problems with overstepping.
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