Cricket: Victoria set England 311 to win

Victoria set England 311 to win on the final day of their three-day game, although light rain is falling at the MCG on Sunday morning.

Victoria declared on their overnight score of 278 for six in their second innings, an overall lead of 310 after Saturday's play provided little benefit to England's hopes of finding an in-form paceman for Thursday's third Ashes test in Perth.

The Bushrangers lost 3-13 in a middle-order collapse on Saturday to be 176 for six but some lusty hitting from tailenders Clint McKay and Jayde Herrick against the gentle offerings of Andrew Strauss (1-51 from four overs) and Eoin Morgan (0-37 off three overs) improved the total.

McKay's 58 not out from 27 deliveries was his highest first-class score and Herrick smashed 40 from 19 balls in his debut innings for Victoria.

The pair added 81 in 32 deliveries of big hitting with 12 fours and five sixes between them.

England were trialling Chris Tremlett (0-28 off nine overs), Ajmal Shahzad (0-28 off seven) and Tim Bresnan (0-28 off 10) for Perth to replace the injured Stuart Broad.

But on Saturday they were beaten by a slow-paced pitch as part-time medium-pacer Paul Collingwood claimed 3-19 and spinners Monty Panesar (2-83) and Strauss shared the wickets.

"It's always nice for them to get a couple of wickets. But it has been a hard wicket for the (pace) bowlers to be fair," England batsman Ian Bell said.

"It's so slow out there and they've toiled away.

"It's a great thing for us going to Perth that all three of them had a really good workout batting-friendly conditions."

Alex Keath, the 18-year-old debutant who turned his back on an AFL career with Gold Coast, scored a stylish 46 after being promoted to No 3.

Panesar dismissed opener Aaron Finch for 45 and 20-year-old debutant Ryan Carters, who was raised in Canberra, was bowled by Collingwood for 68.

England had declared on Saturday on their lunchtime score of 184 for two in reply to Victoria's 216 for two.

- AAP