Broad moves quickly into his stride but Cook misses out

The rattled hosts stumbled to 0-2 before half-centuries from opener Wes Robinson (62) and Adam Voges (72) aided the recovery to 242-8 declared.

That left England with an awkward six overs of batting in mildly deteriorating light – too much for Alastair Cook, who could do with early runs Down Under to silence the doubters but was instead curiously bowled off his midriff as he attempted to pull Steve Magoffin.

WA captain Marcus North chose to bat first in this three-day match at the WACA, and it was he who accompanied Robinson in an important third-wicket stand of 42.

Voges then helped the opener add 87 more, and the tail had enough substance to defy England's best efforts and carry their team to an acceptable total on a predictably pacy pitch.

The tourists, or more specifically Broad (3-47), could hardly have started this high-profile campaign any better. He struck with only his fourth first-class ball in Australia, finding enough bounce to have Liam Davis edging to second slip.

Michael Swart went first ball when he could not get out of the way of a short ball, and looped a catch off the glove to Paul Collingwood running in from third slip.

North had to keep out the hat-trick ball in the second over of the morning.

Steven Finn replaced James Anderson but struggled to find any consistency with his length and over-pitched alarmingly at times.

North and Robinson gave England an early lesson about the patience and hard work sure to be required this winter. But Broad was not done with, and had North carving a back-foot edge to Swann at second slip just before lunch.

Robinson swept Swann for successive fours to the unguarded square-leg boundary and hoisted him over long-on for six too on the way to a 128-ball half-century. It was only when Andrew Strauss turned to Collingwood to fill in some overs that the latter's part-time medium-pace immediately brought Robinson's wicket.

After tea, Anderson was repaid for his discipline with the old ball when Luke Pomersbach edged a flat-footed drive behind.

Voges then contributed to his own downfall, beaten to the non-striker's end by a direct hit from Collingwood. It was an anti-climactic end to a stylish 129-ball stay, containing 10 boundaries. uke Ronchi stayed long enough to expose rusty Finn's apparent limitations but followed a straight-driven four and hook for six off successive deliveries from England's tall seamer by cutting the next for a catch at gully.

Swann nabbed a heartening late wicket too, Ryan Duffield edging an attempted cut behind.

A declaration came after just two overs with the second new ball much to Cook's regret as England closed on 10-1.