Andrew Caddick claimed his first half-century for England today to provide some welcome relief after nearly all the top order failed to make use of the batting practice against an under-strength Western Australia XI.

They included Hampshire's John Crawley, who was out for a duck.

The Somerset fast bowler hit an unbeaten 62 as England were dismissed for 221 on the opening day of the two-day practice match with a second-string WA side without eight first-team regulars.

His innings, which included a six and eight other boundaries during his 109-minute stay at the crease, eclipsed his previous best for England of 49 not out against Australia at Edgbaston last year.

But it also helped the tourists reach a respectable total after Callum Thorp, who used to work as a window cleaner in Perth, claimed three early wickets to leave them struggling on 48-4 with only Marcus Trescothick and Alec Stewart, who both fell just short of half-centuries, providing any evidence of form among the specialist batsmen.

Thorp removed Robert Key, Mark Butcher and captain Nasser Hussain in the morning session before dismissing Ashley Giles shortly before tea to leave England with only two three-day matches remaining for practice before the opening Test in Brisbane on November 7.

Key fell to the 12th delivery of the day, trapped leg before to a disguised inswinger, while Butcher offered a tame return catch to Thorp, who claimed Hussain as his third victim four overs later when the England captain drove wildly outside off stump and edged behind to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, who played for Bashley in the Southern League during the summer.

The young wicketkeeper took his second catch three overs later with Michael Clark, son of Yorkshire coach Wayne, picking up where he left off from an impressive display at Lilac Hill to dismiss John Crawley, who pushed forward tentatively and edged behind. Ronchi was to pick up two more catches in a starring display.

WA had to wait until five overs after the lunch interval before they made any further inroads, this time fast bowler Paul Wilson ending Trescothick's impressive 46 when he tempted him forward and he edged low to Mike Hussey at first slip.

Throughout England's troubles, though, Stewart had used his vast experience of playing in Perth, where he starred for Midland Guildford during his formative years, to score 42 before pushing away from his body to Clark and edging behind for 42.

Without any recognised batsmen remaining in England's line-up, James Foster provided determined resistance for 88 minutes before being bowled by Beau Casson, Australia's under-19 left-arm leg-spinner, while Giles became Thorp's fourth victim when he also edged behind.

Just as England seemed destined to capitulate completely, Caddick teamed up with Matthew Hoggard to forge a 79-run partnership which demonstrated the resolve and technique required to succeed.

Caddick even lofted Casson for six over mid-wicket and was given determined support from Hoggard until the Yorkshire seamer was bowled by the pace of Wilson having defied WA's best efforts for 22 overs.

Craig White today received a call from England to act as a cover for the Ashes squad as the tourists acted to strengthen their squad following a spate of injuries since their arrival in Australia.

The 32-year-old Yorkshire all-rounder has been brought in from Adelaide, where he is playing grade cricket this winter, to act as a temporary replacement for Andrew Flintoff while he continues his rehabilitation from a hernia operation.

White will fly to Perth tomorrow and join up with the squad with a view to featuring in England's three-day match against Western Australia at the WACA starting on Monday and stay with the tourists until Flintoff regains full fitness.

It is a complete turnaround in fortunes for White, who was recalled for the second Test against India at Trent Bridge earlier this summer and scored 94 before being ruled out of the rest of the series and the ICC Knockout tournament in Colombo with a side injury.

"Craig performed well against India this summer and is now fully recoverd from the injury," revealed coach Duncan Fletcher.

"He will provide us with cover in the all-rounder position until Andrew is able to return to competitive cricket."

White has proved his return to fitness with some encouraging displays since his arrival in Adelaide and said: "I came over from England two and a half weeks ago to work on my fitness and play grade cricket for Adelaide CC. I got 118 at the weekend and also got through nine overs which is encouraging."