Summary Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was left out for Jonny Bairstow.
SYDNEY (AFP) - England skipper Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bowl first in their final Ashes warm-up match against an Australian Invitational XI in Sydney on Wednesday.
The tourists decided their bowlers were most in need of a workout after limited time on the field so far on tour, ahead of the November 21 Test opener against Australia in Brisbane.
Kevin Pietersen was included in the England team after having a cortisone injection for a troublesome knee, while Ian Bell returned to the batting line-up.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was left out for Jonny Bairstow as he receives treatment for a calf strain, while main strike bowler James Anderson was rested.
Pacemen Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin were included along with spinner Graeme Swann, with the bowlers looking to get in more overs after rain washed out two of the four days' play in Hobart last week.
The invitational side has been hit by withdrawals, among them Western Australian batsman Adam Voges, with a back complaint.
The side includes a collection of first-class batsmen from around the country, including former Test opener Ed Cowan, Aaron Finch and Callum Ferguson along with members of the New South Wales squad not picked for the Blues' Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.
The match began under sunny skies after several days of rain.
Teams:
CA Invitational XI - Ed Cowan, Aaron Finch, Callum Ferguson, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Ryan Carters, Peter Nevill (capt), James Muirhead, Josh Lalor, Chris Tremain, Nic Bills.
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin.
Umpires: Simon Fry, Mick Martell (AUS)
Match referee: Sean Easey (AUS)
