England slip up in Ashes practice game

England's poor fielding allows Victoria to 212-6 declared while the visitors rack up 50-1 on the first day.

MELBOURNE // England dropped five catches - four of them off Victorian opener Michael Hill - as the visitors were 50 for one at stumps on the first day of a three-day tour match chasing the home state side's 212 for six declared.

Hill was unbeaten on 105, his maiden first-class century, after hitting 11 boundaries in his five-hour knock.

David Hussey was 67 not out from 104 balls and was dropped on 43. The pair added 147 for the third wicket over 175 minutes.

England will resume with captain Andrew Strauss on 17 and Ian Bell on 6.

The in-form batsman Alastair Cook (27) was caught behind off the bowling of spinner Jon Holland to leave England on 39 for one.

After winning the toss in sunny conditions, Victoria made slow progress in the first session, losing Ryan Carters (16) with the total on 19.

Tim Bresnan (1-56) made an early bid to take the place of injured quick Stuart Broad in the England team for next week's third Ashes Test in Perth, removing Carters, caught behind in his first over and the 10th of the innings.

Victorian skipper Cameron White (23) played a poor shot as he charged down the pitch to spinner Monty Panesar (1-53) after lunch, lobbing a catch to mid-off after a 50-run partnership with Hill.

Left-hander Hill was dropped before scoring and on 21 by Matt Prior, who is not performing his usual duties as wicketkeeper in this game, handing over to back-up man Steven Davies.

Prior grassed a waist-high chance at third-slip in the opening over and fumbled a low chance at mid-wicket shortly before lunch.

Davies spilled a difficult chance with Hill on 62 and the batsman had a fourth life when on 92, missed at mid-on.