England bowlers fail to click in tour match

England dropped a string of catches as Victoria declared on 216 for 2 on today’s first day of the three-day tour match at the MCG.



England were asked to field first, resting their Test attack, along with Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott.



Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar each took a wicket, with Chris Tremlett unable to obtain a breakthrough.



Tremlett is tipped to replace the injured Stuart Broad in the third Test.



With much of the attention on the bowling of Tremlett, Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad - one of whom is certain to make their Ashes debut in Perth on December 16, Michael Hill quietly helped himself to a maiden first-class century.



The 22-year-old was dropped four times in all on his way to 105 not out and England also missed a half-chance to dismiss David Hussey on 43.



Hill, a left-handed opener, shared an unbroken stand of 147 in 40 overs with Hussey 67 not out before captain Cameron White ordered a sporting declaration.



White's decision was rewarded when Alastair Cook, averaging 225 in the Test series, edged a cut shot off slow left-armer Jon Holland to Matthew Wade on 27 as England ended on 50 for one.



The batsmen at the crease are Ian Bell on 6 and Andrew Strauss on 17.