ALICE SPRINGS, Australia (AP) Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar shared seven wickets Saturday to put a positive spin on an otherwise lackluster performance by England in a drawn two-day tour match against a Chairman's XI.
Swann took 4-56 from 23 overs and Panesar 3-41 from 19 as the local side declared on 254-8 in reply to England's first innings of 212-7 declared. England was 47-1 in its second innings at stumps with Michael Carberry 37 not out and Gary Ballance 8 not out. Joe Root was out for 1.
The form of Swann and Panesar gives the England tour selectors food for thought as they consider taking two spinners into the second test which starts at Adelaide on Thursday. Australia won the first test by 381 runs.
Test aspirants Ballance (55) and Jonny Bairstow (31 not out) top-scored in England's first innings and are the leading candidates to replace Jonathan Trott, who has left the tour with a stress-related illness.
Root and Ian Bell, who are being considered for promotion to No. 3 in Trott's absence, failed to make a strong impression. Root made 22 in the first innings but failed in the second and Bell went cheaply in his only bat.