Close Queensland 333 for 4 (Love 124*, Law 68) against England XI
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Martin Love top-scored with an unbeaten 124 and Stuart Law weighed in with 68, as England began their final warm-up match before the first Test with a hard day in the field. By the close, an impressive Queensland batting line-up had rattled along to 333 for 4 against England's probable Test attack.

It was a mixed day for England. Andrew Caddick continued his fine start to the tour, picking up two wickets in the first session, but Simon Jones dropped short too often in his eagerness to get up to full tilt and was duly punished. However, this pitch at Brisbane's Allan Border Field is considerably slower than anything England are likely to encounter in the first Test at the Gabba.

It was a good day, though, for Andrew Flintoff. He was barely able to walk at the beginning of the tour, but demonstrated that he is returning to full fitness with two wickets in his 18 overs. Flintoff made the only breakthrough of the afternoon session when he persuaded his Lancashire team-mate Law to chip a return catch (193 for 3), and he later ended a rollicking innings from Andrew Symonds, who nibbled a catch to Alec Stewart for 47 (298 for 4). Understandably, Flintoff struggled for rhythm on occasions, and overstepped nine times.

But the day belonged to Love, who scored his 23rd first-class century in front of Trevor Hohns, the chairman of Australia's selectors. Love was awarded an Australian Cricket Board contract this season, and pressed his claims for a Test call-up with a dutiful five-hour innings. On 77, he survived a confident lbw appeal against Jones, but otherwise he looked in total control, scoring 16 fours in his 233-ball effort.

Nasser Hussain, though, was pleased with his team's performance. "We needed a real hard-work day and that's just what we got," he said afterwards. "On a hard, flat wicket like this we haven't got the firepower yet to blast sides out. We win by staying in games and that's how it's going to be out here."

But Love warned that England should expect an even tougher time come the Test matches. "They're going to have their work cut out," he said, "but their bowlers are certainly good enough. If they play on a wicket similar to this, which the Gabba will probably be, it's going to be hard work. Caddick was the best of the bowlers by a fair way and the others seemed to have a few niggles."

As expected, Michael Vaughan made his first appearance of the tour, and his knee survived a gruelling day in the field. Darren Gough, meanwhile, has been given permission by Queensland Cricket to test his match fitness in a club game next week. He will turn out for University on the second day of their match against Sandgate-Redcliffe, and he will be joined by one other squad member who is not playing at the Gabba.

The last thing England needed was another injury worry, so there was a brief moment of concern when Mark Butcher slammed into the boundary fence while fielding a shot from Law. He appeared at first to be hurt, but soon jogged back to his fielding position. The management can breathe again.

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