Swann & Bresnan Hit Half Centuries

England were grateful to Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan on the opening day of their warm up game with Essex at the County Ground, as they recovered from 212-7, to close on 328-7 at stumps. Both all rounders hit unbeaten half centuries as the top order batsmen failed to build on good starts....

Stuart Broad was 'rested' from the side, as part of protecting a niggle he had picked up, which meant that Graham Onions was called to bowl in the match.

It was also felt ahead of the game, that Boyd Rankin may have played for Essex, but this wasn't the case as the game got underway.

With a new opening partner in Joe Root, captain Alastair Cook (18) was the opening wicket to fall, as he tried to cut a delivery from paceman Tymal Mills, and was caught behind.

Indeed Mills impressed in his opening spell, reaching speeds of over 90mph with some of his deliveries.

Root had reached 41 before he edged former England seamer Mahmood to third slip, and Trott (32) was caught behind again from the bowling of Mills.

Kevin Pietersen played some sublime strokes in reaching 49, but after trying to take the game to the leg spin of Tom Craddock, he was caught and bowled just one short of a fine half century.

With Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow and Matt Prior all getting into double figures and not going on, England's innings looked in real trouble at 212-7, but Bresnan and Swann had other ideas, with them starting again on Day 2 unbeatan on 55 and 62 respectively.

A good work out for England, though the top order will be kicking themselves for not booking in for breakfast on the second day with a century to their name.

ESPN SCORECARD

England: Cook (c), Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior (wkt), Bresnan, Swann, Finn, Onions