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NEW week, same story for the fragile English batting line-up.
On an Alice Springs day tailor-made for runs, the visitors spluttered before declaring at 7-212 against the Chairman's XI, with more questions than answers as they seek an Ashes spark for the second Test.
In reply, the hosts saw off 10 overs before stumps to reach 0-16, with Steve Cazzulino and Marcus Harris unbeaten on five and 10, respectively.
Excluding fiery Victorian Jayde Herrick, an attack of largely Sheffield Shield aspirants took advantage of some spectacular catches to keep England's miserable tour mired in second gear.
All three English batsmen on audition for an Adelaide berth gave hope, rather than certainty, that they could hold their own in the Ashes.
But none could make that water-tight case that he, without question, was the man.
Matt Prior walks off after failing with the bat again. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Jonny Bairstow was impressive and unbeaten on 31 when acting skipper Ian Bell called England in, but he'd taken the bowlers at their low ebb after having baked in the Traeger Park sun all afternoon.
Gary Ballance, run out for a workmanlike 55, batted as if it were a timeless match rather than a two-day hitout.
And just when Ben Stokes appeared to have momentum in the hunt for Jonathan Trott's job, he fell to a sparkling Harris catch at short leg for 28.
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Compounding England's problems, out-of-form Test gloveman Matt Prior failed again in his quest for batting practice, falling cheaply for the fifth time in succession.
Prior, who had made just 34 runs since arriving in Australia, looked comfortable, if a little breezy, in racing to 19.
But he fell to a regulation leg-cutter from Simon Mackin, feathering a catch to 16-year-old wicketkeeper Jake Doran.
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The injury-hit gloveman, England's vice-captain on tour, handed the reins to Bell so he could focus exclusively on his batting.
But even though his chance came early with openers Michael Carberry ( 6) - to another brilliant low Harris catch at mid-wicket - and Joe Root (22) out cheaply, Prior couldn't cash in on his opportunity at No.4.
Gary Ballance made a half-century before being run out. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
He played some expansive drives that weren't fully rewarded on the huge and lush playing surface, but he also had a little luck with balls that flew through and over the slips cordon before running out of luck after 27 deliveries.
Which left Test wannabes Ballance and Stokes all afternoon to press their case - an invitation they unwittingly spurned.
Ballance, who hit his fifth boundary to bring up an at-times painfully slow half-century off 124 deliveries, was clearly frustrated when his own errant call cost him an invaluable opportunity.
Bairstow, the only capped player of the three on parade, was immediately solid in defence, but even he played second fiddle to Graeme Swann (29) in their innings-high 49-run stand for the seventh wicket, symptomatic of the team's issues in last week's disastrous first Test match.
Herrick bowled well without luck for the hosts, but West Australian giant Mackin returned the best figures of 2-32 on a day of honest toil, rather than destruction.
