Jaques, Katich put Blues in control v England

New South Wales was 1 for 125 at lunch after opting to bat first on day one of the three-day tour game against England at the SCG today.
Phil Jaques was 68 not out with captain Simon Katich alongside him on 29 after a morning which featured some rusty bowling and sloppy fielding from England.
The only wicket to fall was that of Ed Cowan (26), who had his off stump knocked over after leaving a Steve Harmison ball.

Jaques was carrying on where he left off against England on Friday, where he scored 112 at better than a run-a-ball while playing for the Prime Minister's XI.
Katich had been offered a reprieve on 14 when he was dropped by Marcus Trescothick at first slip off the bowling of Andrew Flintoff.
The game features the first appearances on this tour of Test pacemen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, who missed the tour opener in Canberra.

Harmison and Hoggard shared the new ball, with Harmison going for 1-32 off his opening six-over spell and Hoggard 0-40 off his eight overs.
Flintoff had more encouragement after ankle surgery last July to get through his first five overs of the game without problems for 0-12 with two maidens.
But the tourists left Chris Read out of their 14-man squad, giving an indication that Geraint Jones has the inside running on the wicket-keeping position for the Ashes opener in Brisbane on November 23.

Durham pace bowler Liam Plunkett was also omitted and has yet to play on the Australian tour.
New South Wales is fielding a Test-strength attack featuring Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Nathan Hauritz and Stuart Clark.
England and NSW have agreed to play 14 players during the three-day match, which will not have first-class status, but only 11 players a side can bat.

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