Test hopefuls Jonny Bairstow and the uncapped Gary Ballance have top-scored for England in their total of 7-212 declared on day one of their two-day clash with the Chairman’s XI.

Sent in to bat in hot conditions at Traeger Park in Alice Springs on Friday, the tourists slumped to 6-149 before Bairstow and Graeme Swann (29) added 49 for the seventh wicket.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Bairstow was unbeaten on 31 while Ballance scored a patient 55 off 134 balls at No.3.

Ten overs remain in the day’s play.

With temperatures in the mid-30s on Friday and a top of 39 forecast for Saturday, the Red Centre has turned out a hot welcome for the tourists.

And England were made to scrap hard with the bat despite the home side having no current Sheffield Shield players in their 12-man lineup.

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

Prior was caught behind by 16-year-old NSW 2nd XI player Jake Doran off Simon 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 next week.

Zimbabwe-born Ballance was run out at 5-146 after a mix-up with Ian Bell, who was out three runs later for 13 as Western Australia rookie Mackin (2-32) claimed his second scalp.

Bairstow brought up the 200 with a pull shot to the boundary, prompting the Barmy Army trumpeter Billy Cooper to break into a few lines of “Sunny Afternoon” by the The Kinks.

The declaration after 79 overs left Bairstow short of a big score to boost his selection hopes.

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