England win a game in Australia (yes, really)

James Tredwell declared England's walk-in-the-park victory over an ACT XI the ideal start to their time in Australia, but acknowledged there would be tougher times around the corner.

England are at the beginning of a three-month tour of duty that encompasses the Carlton Mid Tri-Series against Australia and India as well as the World Cup, and could hardly have asked for a simpler assignment to kick it off.

They polished off their part-time opponents by a bruising margin of 216 runs, skittling them for 148 after having posted 364 for six.

The ACT side represent a scalp as modest as they come, with only one fully-contracted state player, New South Wales' Scott Henry, joined by team-mates whose day jobs include teaching, finance and bricklaying.

But England were still glad to see five of their top six bank half-centuries, with Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Joe Root and Ravi Bopara all in the runs.