A below-Sheffield Shield strength Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI side reduced England to a modest tally of 3-72 at lunch on day one of their two-day match.

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

NSW left-armer Josh Lalor broke through in the seventh over when Michael Carberry was caught at short mid-wicket for six.

Test No.6 Joe Root, a candidate to be moved up to No.3 in Adelaide next week, fell victim to Victorian paceman Jayde Herrick and was caught at gully for 22.

Sixteen-year-old NSW schoolboy Jake Doran gloved a simple catch behind the stumps as Matt Prior was caught behind for 19 off Western Australian rookie Simon Mackin’s bowling at 3-62.

Mackin was named 12th man but the home side are using a 12-man line-up, despite being called the Chairman’s XI.

Gary Ballance, unbeaten on 17, is a contender to come into England’s batting line-up after Jonathan Trott’s departure with a stress-related illness following England’s first Test loss.

Ben Stokes, also vying for that Test vacancy, is on six.

Ian Bell is leading England in their tour match with Test skipper Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and pace duo Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad rested.

England’s players wore black arm bands in honour of 27-Test veteran Reg Simpson, who died aged 93. The former opener had been England’s oldest surviving Test player.

Beer is the only player with Test experience in the home side and the line-up contains no current Sheffield Shield players.