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AAP
AAP
Sport
Murray Wenzel

Root, England eye time in middle for Ashes

Joe Root (r) and his England squad are enjoying precious time in the middle ahead of the Ashes. (AAP)

Joe Root and the rest of England's top order will have precious time in the middle at Brisbane's Ian Healy Oval in their first and last chance for match practice ahead of Wednesday's first Ashes Test.

Kept to just 29 overs of play across the first five days of scheduled Tour games in the last fortnight, the skies finally cleared on Thursday to allow England to begin their tour game against the England Lions.

Ben Stokes took two wickets in his first game of cricket since July, while Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson went wicketless with the new ball, the Lions finishing the day 4-226.

England went straight in to bat on Friday, with Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns - the pair likely to open for England next week - striding to the crease.

Dawid Malan, Root, Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler are listed to follow in what is likely to mirror the make-up of the Gabba batting order.

England are seeking to win back the Ashes after a 2-2 draw in England's 2019 series saw Australia retain the urn.

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