The pity is that for England's one representative match on tour the four-day game is not being classified as first class. Only three meetings with state sides are warranting that recognition.

Tours to other countries have included 'Tests', and when Young Australia came to England two summers ago their match with the Test and County Cricket Board at Edgbaston was given full status.

Australia have always resisted that element of reciprocity, however. When England A came here four years ago, Peter Such produced career-best bowling figures in the victory over the Australian Cricket Academy at Melbourne only to discover that the game had been downgraded.

Rod Marsh, the former Australia wicketkeeper, who is now the academy's chief coach, said only: ``These games are never first class, and I don't see any reason to change that.''

Marsh may have had in mind his recent reported comments that this year's crop of players from the academy - which has produced many Test cricketers, including Shane Warne - is not a vintage one.

``It is a weak side,'' were the words he is claimed to have made, though when I put them to him, he shrugged, commenting only: ``I'm not saying anything.''

England flew to this country town between Adelaide and Melbourne in what has become known on the tour as a ``flying cigar'' a twin-engined plane where the likes of Ashley Giles had to bend double to get into his seat. After a night celebrating the win over South Australia in Adelaide some players were looking distinctly queasy at the end of a bumpy journey.

Jason Gallian has now recovered from the hand injury which kept him out of the Adelaide game and is likely to play.

David Graveney, the tour manager, acknowledges that the batting apart from Mark Butcher and Owais Shah - has disappointed.

He said: ``In the nets everyone looks in good order. But people are failing to turn teens and twenties into substantial innings. I think it is a matter of concentration. They have got out to some soft shots.''

Graveney believes the win in Adelaide will have been a ``tremendous fillip''.

He said: ``To lose there after being beaten by New South Wales seconds would have been a big kick in the teeth. The purpose of this tour is to win a little respect for us in the eyes of Australians. Adelaide has done that. People are sitting up and taking notice.''