Joe Root has bounced back from the disappointment of being demoted down the order to show his versatility on day four of the rain-affected tour match against Australia A in Hobart.
Root made 58 from 97 balls in a quality two-hour stint at the crease as England declared at 7-430 from 128 overs faced.
The 22-year-old has been replaced as an opener by Michael Carberry, but Root has carried on with business and will play a vital role in the Ashes for England at No.6.
After rain wiped out days two and three and delayed the start of play on Saturday, England’s bowlers will have just 36 overs available to them on the final day.
In a concern for England, key batsman Kevin Pietersen went for just eight runs, meaning he has just one more match against an Invitation XI next week in Sydney to find form before the Ashes.
Play resumed with Pietersen and Jonathan Trott striding to the crease, after openers Alastair Cook (154) and Carberry (153) retired to give the rest of the order a bat.
Pietersen was the first to go, trapped lbw by one that stayed low to Trent Copeland (1-99) and then Trott followed when he nicked behind off the impressive Ben Cutting (2-75).
Gary Ballance appears no chance to make his debut in the first Test at the Gabba, after again failing – plumb lbw to Cutting for four.
However, Ballance might feel as though he’s made some progress – he faced 17 balls when his previous two innings for England ended in first and second-ball ducks.
England’s worries in the middle order were alleviated somewhat by Root, who looked a little suspect to the fuller ball, but smashed six boundaries mostly off the back foot.
Stuart Broad was the last man to go, caught brilliantly in the deep by Usman Khawaja off spinner Jon Holland.
Broad attracted the ire of the Australian players and fans when he refused to walk when obviously out in Trent Bridge during the last series.
And the England quick was in no hurry to go on Saturday either, appearing to wait around for a replay before walking off the ground.
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior might have picked up an injury, with Root to keep wicket in the second innings.
