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England batting is vulnerable: Harris

Cricket Australia XI coach says the tour match gave him valuable intelligence to pass on ahead of the Ashes

England's batting has been branded as vulnerable by Cricket Australia XI coach Ryan Harris.

Harris believes he's gathered valuable intelligence on England's weaknesses from a tour game to pass on to Australian coach Darren Lehmann ahead of the Magellan Ashes.

England thumped Harris' inexperienced CA XI by 192 runs in their warm-up game in Adelaide.

The tourists suffered a horror batting collapse of 7-45 on Friday before being rescued by their pacemen, who skittled the CA XI for 75 to secure victory on Saturday.

Day three highlights: CA XI v ENG


Asked if England's batting was vulnerable, Harris replied: "It is, absolutely.

"Especially with no (Ben) Stokes at six or seven.

"But it depends on how the boys bowl to them. If the boys bowl loose and wide, there's troubles.

"But we have got some good intel and some good knowledge on what we want to do which I will pass on to our (Test) bowlers."

England destroy CA XI under lights


Evergreen opener Alastair Cook is among England's issues – after a second-ball duck in their tour-opener in Perth, he made 15 and a scratchy 32 in Adelaide.

"He looked a bit rusty," Harris said of Cook.

"He obviously had a good county season, he is probably coming off some good form.

"But it's different in our conditions. He is pretty good in these conditions, he had a good 2010-11 (series) here so he knows what he has to do.

"I'm sure he will look forward to another hit next week ... we all know what he can do, we know he's world-class."

Stoneman makes it three half-centuries in a row


The tourists depart Adelaide for a four-day game against the CA XI starting Wednesday in Townsville with fresh injury concerns.

Paceman Jake Ball suffered strained ligaments in his right ankle when bowling on Thursday, just days after fellow quick Steven Finn was sent home because of a knee injury.

Seamer Tom Curran has arrived as Finn's replacement while Sussex seamer George Garton will be added to the squad for the Townsville game.

Spinning allrounder Moeen Ali will make his first competitive appearance on tour in Townsville, having recovered from a side strain.

But England remain resigned to being without Stokes for the Ashes series, which starts on November 23 in Brisbane – he remains at home pending the outcome of a police investigation into a street fight in late September.

Milenko runs through England batting order


2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21