England's Performance Programme team enjoyed a bright start to their time in Australia by scoring 334 for six on the opening day against the Queensland Academy in Brisbane.

Somerset batsman James Hildreth was the star of the show for the supposed England Second XI, scoring an unbeaten 142 as they were forced to recover from 43 for three.

Queensland's attack had the better of the first session with Alistair McDermott, Cameron Gannon and Ben Laughlin bowling tightly to keep England quiet.

Andrew Gale, Jimmy Adams and Steve Davies fell cheaply before Hildreth and Eoin Morgan came together to put on 50 inside 36 minutes.

Their stand extended to 142 before Morgan fell for a well-crafted 71 to show he is in the kind of form needed should England need another batsman to bolster their middle order.

Taunton teammates Hildreth and Craig Kieswetter proceeded to bash the Queenslanders to all corners of at Allan Border Field, adding another 125 in quick time.

Kieswetter eventually made it to 65, an innings that featured five fours and three sixes, before falling to McDermott, who grabbed another late wicket to finish with figures of for for 69.