England’s attack for the first Test is no closer to being finalised, after Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin turned in underwhelming performances on day one of the tour match against a largely no-name Invitational XI in Sydney.

Fallen Test star Ed Cowan played a brave knock of 51, before Ryan Carters (94 not out) and skipper Peter Nevill (76no) got on top of their more fancied opposition with an unbeaten 178-run stand.

With big names Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes, Adam Voges and Steve O’Keefe pulled from the match, a chance was provided for some unheralded NSW players to ironically prove themselves against England.

Originally, it was a NSW second XI that was scheduled to face England until the ECB complained about the standard of opposition and they were replaced by a Cricket Australia Invitational outfit.

At stumps on day one the Invitational side were 5-271, having recovered from 5-93.

Carters is on track for a maiden first-class hundred and Nevill is making his claim as a potential new Test understudy to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

In a positive for England, fast bowler Stuart Broad (3-36) found some form, taking three wickets on Wednesday.

With James Anderson rested for the final tour match before the Gabba, coach Andy Flower needed one of Finn or Rankin to stand up and announce themselves for the vacant seam position for Brisbane.

But the pari failed to impress.

Finn took two wickets but struggled for consistency and went for 87 runs.

Rankin (0-52) bowled with good pace, but couldn’t sustain any momentum.

Chris Tremlett was also rested for this match but had struggled to assert himself in Perth and Hobart.

Cowan batted calmly through the early carnage but threw away a chance at a ton when he slapped a pull shot off Finn to mid-wicket.

Broad devastated Australia in the fourth Test of the last Ashes series in Durham, and once again he shapes as a danger man this summer.

The 27-year-old has embraced his casting as Ashes villain, and seems to thrive on the negative emotion he created when he refused to talk at Trent Bridge when he nicked one behind.

In just the second over Broad had Invitational opener Aaron Finch edging behind for 4.

Finch made a king pair in his last Sheffield Shield match and couldn’t shake the funk.

Broad’s next victim was Callum Ferguson, trapped lbw for 8.

Then after lunch Broad had Ben Rohrer caught at gully – a screamer by Michael Carberry diving one-handed to his right.