Mark Stoneman and James Vince were in the runs but skipper Joe Root was dismissed cheaply as England made a solid start to their Ashes tour in Perth on Saturday. Stoneman hit 85 off 113 balls while Vince compiled 82 off 129 balls as the tourists reached 349 for six at the close of the first day after winning the toss in their two-day game against a Western Australia XI. But Root fell for just nine and experienced opener Alastair Cook was out on the second ball of the innings in setbacks for the England team ahead of the Ashes series. Root looked annoyed when he was given out caught behind when it looked like the ball had flicked his leg rather than his bat. Stoneman fell 15 runs short of his century when he was picked up at second slip as he attempted to drive paceman Lance Morris.

England's James Vince plays a stroke during a two-day cricket match against a Western Australian X1 team at the WACA ground in Perth on November 4, 2017. Pic/AFP