Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI captain Michael Beer has won the toss and sent England in to bat on Friday on the opening day of the two-day match in Alice Springs.
The match is due to get under way in hot conditions with a top of 37 degrees forecast.
Middle-order batsman Ian Bell will captain the touring team with skipper Alastair Cook rested ahead of next week’s second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
England have included Jonny Bairstow and uncapped duo Ben Stokes and Gary Ballance as all three batsmen contend for a spot in the Test side following Jonathan Trott’s return home with a stress-related illness.
Frontline quicks Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and star batsman Kevin Pietersen have also been rested by the tourists against a depleted Chairman’s XI side in which only Beer has Test experience.
The home team’s pace attack will be led by Victoria’s Jayde Herrick.