England v Australia A

Tour match, Hobart (day four):
England 523 & 11-0 bt Australia A 230 & 301 by 10 wickets

England eased to a crushing 10-wicket win against Australia A in their final warm-up match ahead of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Resuming on 128-3 in Hobart, the hosts were quickly in trouble as Chris Tremlett took three early wickets. Cameron White hit a nelson (111) but when he fell to the impressive Monty Panesar (3-63), Australian hopes were effectively over. Tim Bresnan's fourth wicket wrapped up the innings before the England openers knocked off the nine runs required.

Ian Bell's terrific 192 was ultimately the key innings in Tasmania, but with Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Paul Collingwood all looking in good nick, coach Andy Flower will be content with his side's batting preparations.

The bowling quartet of Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann may have enjoyed the luxury of a week lounging around in Queensland to hone their skills but the back-up attack's display in this game will have sent a timely reminder that team selection should not be taken for granted.

Once again, Tremlett, Bresnan and Panesar put the Australians under pressure throughout, and with injuries a common factor on lengthy Ashes tours, the two pacemen should be prepared to play some part in the Test series. Tremlett's pace and bounce did the damage early on the final day as he collected three wickets in eight balls before lunch.

Phillip “The new Bradman” (©The Sydney Daily Telegraph – 2009) Hughes (81), who opened in the first Test of the last series in 2009, added 23 to his overnight score before he was excellently taken by Strauss at first slip. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine hardly pushed his case to take over from Brad Haddin in the full Test squad when he was trapped lbw for two shortly after while Steve Smith - who has been included in the 13-man party for Brisbane – hilariously shouldered arms to his first ball.

Steve O'Keefe kept out Tremlett's hat-trick ball though and a 78-run stand with White held up England in the afternoon as the hosts fought to avoid defeat. However when O'Keefe miscued a drive off Panesar on 27 the hosts were in trouble, despite White bringing up a well-deserved century. He eventually edged behind for 111 and when Mark Cameron fell for a duck, an innings victory seemed a possibility.

Beanpole ‘quickish’ bowler Peter George and the Rugged Clint McKay just did enough to avert that particular embarrassment but Strauss and Cook still only needed nine balls to knock off the runs required and seal a hugely convincing win.

The Jardine Report – We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Hobart (excellent Sushi at Mures) and the impressive performance certainly gives huge encouragement for a successful series. Every England player looked comfortable and focussed, whereas the Aussie swagger was noticeable by its absence. Make no mistake it will be a very tough series but for once we head to the first test with Australia full of doubt and England full of confidence.