England secured a seven-wicket victory over a Cricket Australia Invitational XI in their final warm-up match ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, Nottinghamshire's Stuart Broad finishing the match with excellent figures of 6-69 off 40 overs.
During day one, Broad took 3-36 from his 20 overs, including seven maidens, but England failed to impose themselves fully thanks to no shortage of resistance from Ryan Carters and Peter Nevill, who navigated Australia to 271-5 by the close of play.
The pair added 178 for the sixth wicket, after Stuart Broad and Steven Finn reduced the hosts to 93-5. Of that 93, former Nottinghamshire man Ed Cowan scored a steady 53 before being Steven Finn’s second victim, having previous had Kurtis Patterson caught by captain Cook in the slips.
Broad was destructive, seeing off Finch (caught behind) for four, trapping Callum Ferguson for 8 and later seeing Rohrer sent packing thanks to an excellent catch from Michael Carberry.
While Broad performed well, more questions were raised as to the third seamer for the upcoming Ashes series, with neither Boyd Rankin or Steven Finn impressing. Rankin failed to impose himself convincingly, but remained economical, wicketless after his 20 overs, but only conceding 60 runs. Finn, while more aggressive, was also more expensive, finishing with 2-79 from his 22.
In an attempt to lure the stubborn pair into playing a little more, Cook turned to Jonathan Trott and Joe Root for overs late in the day, but to no avail. At stumps, Carters and Nevill had rescued their country’s innings and began day two on 271-5.
Finn improved in the second day's morning session, taking three further wickets and ending the innings with 5-103, the hosts losing their remaining five for just 33, collapsing to 304 all out.
Broad struck with the first ball of the day to see off Carters, while Finn accounted for Peter Nevill, as well as Josh Lalor and Nic Bills. Boyd Rankin also claimed a wicket.
An enjoyable day at the crease for England's batsmen wobbled early. Carberry scored four before being caught behind. Alastair Cook, alongside Jonathan Trott added 143 before the latter edged behind. A fluent knock of 83 coming from 105 balls ended by Josh Lalor. Cook departed 20 runs later, for 81.
Kevin Pietersen also passed 50, before falling victim to an excellent catch from sub-fielder Daniel Hughes, while Ian Bell will be disappointed to have only added 35. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow saw England through until stumps, closing on 302-5.
The pair continued their good form into day three, Bairstow making 48 before Tremain found his edge and keeper Nevill made no mistake behind the stumps.
Despite his class at the crease, it wasn't plain sailing for Root, who took a heavy blow on the glove which required treatment in the middle, but he was able to continue and shortly after passed 50.
England lost their remaining wickets quickly, Broad and Swann the only other players to reach double figures. Root eventually departed for 75, England's innings finishing on 418, a lead of 114.
The Cricket Australia Invitational XI made quick progress, Aaron Finch showing some of the limited-overs form to score quickly at the expense of Steven Finn, before being stopped by Graeme Swann on 59. Ed Cowan played a typically steady game, before an unplayable delivery from Stuart Broad took his off stump away from him.
Finn sent down a similar delivery to account for Callum Ferguson, while Boyd Rankin made it a wicket apiece for the England bowling pack when he had Rohrer caught behind by Bairstow. From 81-1 to 153-4 at close of play, on day three, Broad struck early in the final day, too.
He bowled Kurtis Patterson, before Steven Finn had Peter Nevill caught behind by Jonny Bairstow, esposing the Australian tail.
Swann picked up his second to see off Carters, before an aggressive Boyd Rankin helped reduce the home side to 261 all out before lunch. Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers, ending the match with figures of 6-69 from 40 overs, while Steven Finn took eight, but at the expense of nearly 200 runs.
This left England with a winning target of 148 in sight, and two sessions to chase it. With the prospect of rain in the afternoon, quick scoring was the order of the day. Carberry and Cook started well, before England lost their captain for 21, shortly before rain intervened with the score 40-1 from 12.
On resumption, Carberry scored fluently, reaching fifty before being caught off James Muirhead. Despite a second setback in losing Pietersen for six, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott saw England through to the winning target.
There will still be questions for England ahead of the first Ashes Test this Thursday, over the selection of the final seam bowler, but also Jonny Bairstow’s ability to fill in for Matt Prior should he be ruled out. That said, the morale-boosting win in this final warm-up should settle a few nerves ahead of the Brisbane Test.
Stuart Broad, along with fellow Notts man Graeme Swann, return to Trent Bridge with England next summer for a Test Match and One Day International against India. Click here for tickets and more information.