Gary Ballance played himself into Ashes contention with the standout innings in England's poor batting display against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI on Friday.
The Yorkshire middle-order player has been tipped to replace Jonathan Trott in the second Test at Adelaide and was given the chance to impress in his number-three slot in Alice Springs.
Trott has flown home to England to begin his recovery from a stress-related illness, and Ballance, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow are thought to be the three candidates to replace him in the team.
Ballance put together a well-constructed 55 before he was ran out following a mix up with Ian Bell, who was later caught behind to leave England reeling on 149-6 against a relatively unknown bowling attack.
Durham all-rounder Stokes made 28, while Bairstow, who played in four of the five Ashes Tests against Australia last summer, was unbeaten on 31 when England declared on 212-7.
Wicket-keeper Matt Prior (19) continued to struggle for form, while Joe Root (22) and Michael Carberry (6) also failed on a day which ended with the hosts 16-0 from their 10 overs.
