MARK Stoneman admitted a succession of “sloppy” dismissals added up to a disappointing first day for England in their pink-ball match against a Cricket Australia XI.
The opener was one of three batsmen – captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan were the others – to pass 50 yet get no further than 63 in a total of 278 for eight at the Adelaide Oval.
He did not absolve himself from criticism after being caught at midwicket off a full-toss from rookie leg-spinner Daniel Fallins, who finished with figures of four for 71.
England then lost three late wickets to the second new ball under lights in the second fixture of their Ashes tour, and Stoneman said: “We’re a fraction disappointed.
“Some of the dismissals we had today were a touch on the sloppy side, so it was a little bit frustrating more than anything that we didn’t kick on and probably have a couple of hundreds scored out there today.
“Everyone got a bit of time in the middle, so that was encouraging – but we also need to be scoring hundreds. So there are lessons to be learned from today.”
A young home team therefore remain in contention, and Stoneman added: “Credit to (them) – they’ve got themselves back in the game.
“Obviously there’s been a progression from the opposition we faced in Perth.”
The opener, who again saw Alastair Cook dismissed cheaply at the other end, posted his second successive 50 but rued his own error.
“The bat twisted a little bit in my hand, and I clothed it – so it was pretty disappointing,” he said.
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