England draw Bears practice match

Three-day match, Edgbaston:
England 290-8 dec & 319-3 drew with Warwickshire 102 all out & 27-3
Match scorecard

England have drawn their Ashes practice match against Warwickshire with several key batsmen making runs at Edgbaston.

After a delayed start on Friday, England declared 507 runs ahead, with top scores from Ravi Bopara (104), Paul Collingwood (79) and Matt Prior (50).

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were England's only recognised batsmen not to pass 50 in the three-day match.

Warwickshire totalled 27-3 in response with Stuart Broad and Flintoff among the wickets before time ran out.

England selectors meet in Worcester on Monday to decide the squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia in Cardiff on 8 July.

The England Lions are also playing a practice match against Australia with several members of that side hoping to force themselves into the reckoning.

England resumed the day on 185-2 and after key contributions from Bopara, who retired on 104, and the unbeaten duo of Collingwood and Prior, they raced into an unassailable lead.

Flintoff was unable to bat for a second time because of England's declaration.

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In Warwickshire's second innings, Broad took the wicket of Ben Westwood, Jim Troughton was run out and Flintoff captured Ateeq Javid.

Afterwards Bopara, whose performance at Edgbaston may have sealed his place in the Test side, said the mood in the England camp was relaxed ahead of their first encounter with Australia.

"Everyone is pretty relaxed and everyone is playing well," he said.

"The way our bowlers played here gives them confidence and gives the batters confidence.

"We coped well on this sort of deck and we are very relaxed. Everyone seems chilled but working really hard.

"Everyone has been in the nets and in the gym getting ready in every possible way - whether it is strength, fitness or technique - so we are ready for Wednesday."

He added: "Every player expects to play, and the 11 here expect to play.

"I'm not one choosing the team but I think every player will prepare as if they are going to play.

"The last thing you want to do is rock up on Wednesday and be surprised when they pick the team."

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