Close England 54 for 0 (Trescothick 21*, Key 33*) trail Western Australia 213 (North 71*, Caddick 4-49) by 159 runs
Scorecard

At last, a good day at the office for England. Their raw quick bowlers Simon Jones and Steve Harmison were paired for the first time in a first-class match, but it was the older, greyer figure of Andy Caddick who stole the show on a rain-hit opening day at the WACA.

Caddick continued his fine start to the tour with 4 for 49 as England took control against a Western Australia side including six players with international experience. At the close England were 54 for 0 off just nine overs in reply to WA's 213, a score that owed most to Marcus North's impressive 71 not out.

This was England's first really satisfactory day of the tour. Apart from Caddick, Jones was lively, Harmison penetrative and economical, and Craig White settled into Andrew Flintoff's stock bowler role smoothly. It is one he is likely to have in the first Test at Brisbane.

Harmison had been given the new ball ahead of Caddick in the two-day game here last week, but the roles were reversed and Caddick quickly set about showing his younger rivals who was boss.

It is widely expected that Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden will try to hit Caddick out of the Test series, but Caddick struck the first psychological blow by dismissing Langer for 13, caught at short leg by John Crawley off the inside-edge (34 for 1).

Then Western Australia lost three wickets for three runs in four overs. Chris Rogers was caught behind by Alec Stewart off Caddick for 7 (51 for 2), and Scott Meuleman's painstaking 21 ended when he was caught behind as he looked to turn Harmison off his hip (52 for 3). When Caddick struck again - picking up Mike Hussey for 0 off a thick outside edge that was taken by Marcus Trescothick at third slip - Western Australia were in trouble at 54 for 4.

Ryan Campbell, who smacked 146 off 147 balls on England's last Ashes tour, threatened to turn the tide with a forceful 37. He added 66 in 16 overs with North before hooking a short one from Harmison straight down Caddick's throat at fine leg (120 for 5).

North played beautifully and hit one six off Ashley Giles, but wickets continued to fall at the other end. Brad Hogg hared to 22 before falling lbw to Giles (163 for 6), and Matthew Nicholson (19) slapped Jones to cover (194 for 7). Giles (3 for 42) picked up two more wickets before Caddick wrapped things up when Jo Angel was caught by Rob Key at point.

England's reply was crisp and authoritative. Key scorched to 33 not out off 30 balls, cutting and pulling the much-hyped Brad Williams for a series of boundaries. It was a fitting end to a day that couldn't have gone much better.

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