Test hopeful Gary Ballance’s 55 has been the highlight of England’s modest batting display as the tourists reached 6-152 at tea on day one of their two-day clash with the Chairman’s XI.

Western Australia rookie paceman Simon Mackin has 2-24 for the home side which boasts not a single player currently making the grade at Sheffield Shield level.

Chairman’s XI captain Michael Beer won the toss in hot conditions and chose to bowl at Treager Park in Alice Springs on Friday.

Michael Carberry (six), Joe Root (22) and Matt Prior (19) all fell before lunch.

Test gloveman Prior’s dismissal continued his run out of outs after scoring 0 and four in last wee’s Brisbane Test.

Prior was caught behind by 16-year-old NSW 2nd XI player Jake Doran off Mackin’s bowling at 3-62.

Kiwi-born allrounder Ben Stokes batted at No.5 and was caught at short leg for 28, failing in his bid to post a big score to push for a Test debut in Adelaide.

Ballance (55 off 134 balls) was run out at 5-146 after a mix-up with Ian Bell, who was out three runs later for 13 as Mackin claimed his second wicket.

However Ballance may have done enough to win the vacant spot in England’s top six for Adelaide on December 5.

Another candidate, wicketkeeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow, was three not out at tea as was Graeme Swann.

England need to adjust their batting lineup for Adelaide following the withdrawal of No.3 Jonathan Trott from the rest of the Ashes series with a stress-related illness.

Ballance’s good form means the Zimbabwe-born left-hander may slot in to No.6 for his Test debut, with Root switched from No.6 to the vital No.3 role.

Beer is the only player with Test experience in the home team, who are using a 12-man lineup against England’s 11.