Jones gives Australians the first taste of his pace

Western Australia 213 and 248 England 327 and 130-5 Match drawn

Requiring a six from the last ball to win this match for England, Robert Key's heave sadly failed to make contact, leaving Nasser Hussain at the non-striker's end to reflect on a game his side deserved to win and a run chase they probably should have achieved. However, in the context of this winter, the fact that they fell five runs short of their target of 135 in 20 overs is immaterial for England took exactly what they wanted from this three-day game against Western Australia – confidence.

Before this match started, the Australian opening batsman Justin Langer, who captained Western Australia, stated that he did not want England to gain any sort of momentum with the first Test fast approaching. Having been outplayed throughout by the visitors, and despite scoring 68 quality runs himself, he yesterday accepted that his side had failed to achieve this goal.

That England were able to set up such an enthralling climax was mainly due to the efforts of two first-time tourists, Simon Jones and Robert Key, who significantly improved their chances of playing against Australia a week today. Bowling with hostility and stamina, Jones tore the heart out of the Western Australia batting when the match appeared to be heading towards a tame draw. In a 10-over spell either side of tea the Welsh tiro took 4 for 33 and by the end of a hard day's work had figures of 5 for 78, his best in an England shirt. In taking five wickets the 23-year- old did as much as he possibly could to follow in the footsteps of his father Jeff, who played 15 Test matches for England in the 1960s. In the corresponding fixture on England's 1965-66 tour of Australia, Jeff took 5 for 59.

It was Jones Jnr, though, who got England off and running yesterday when he dismissed Michael Hussey in the third over of the day. Attempting to hook a bouncer the tall left-hander only managed to top-edge a chance down to fine leg, where Andrew Caddick took an excellent catch running in and diving to his left.

With Western Australia still requiring 91 to make England bat again, Hussain would have been hoping for an early finish, but Langer and Chris Rogers had other ideas. In a partnership of 141 in 37 overs these two little left-handers put England's bowlers to the sword. Cutting and pulling anything remotely short or wide. It appeared that they were taking the Warriors to safety.

That was until Craig White dismissed Langer and Marcus North in consecutive balls. Both were caught by Alec Stewart behind the stumps and England were back in the game. Starting a spell at the other end under the guidance of Marcus Trescothick – Hussain had stayed off after lunch with a stiff back, allowing Darren Gough to further his rehabilitation – was Jones, who wasted no time at all in joining the fun.

First he trapped the impressive Rogers in front for 86 before picking up Brad Hogg and Matthew Nicholson in quick succession. At tea, Western Australia were 105 runs ahead, with only three wickets in hand.

With Hussain now back on the field, Jones continued with the wind in his back. He struck in his first over after the break to claim his fifth wicket when Ryan Campbell, who had earlier been struck on the helmet by a quick bouncer from Jones, chipped one to short midwicket. The tail dug in and wasted a few overs before a farcical run-out, involving a runner, ended Western Australia's innings on 248.

Talking about his success at the end of the game, Jones said: "I'm very happy with the way things went in this game and the progress I have made over the last couple of weeks. My fitness has come on a lot and I am now bowling at about 85 to 90 per cent. Over the last three days we have shown what we can do and we are only going to get better."

It is rare to see Trescothick outscored two innings in a row but this was the case when England came out to bat needing to score at 6.75 runs per over. Key took no time at all to set about the bowling. The Kent opener averaged a boundary an over at the start of England's run chase and throughout his innings of 59, in only 48 balls, showed he has shots all around the wicket.

After the loss of four quick wickets Stewart came in to add his experience to the situation and while he and Key were at the crease, England looked like reaching their target. Forty-two were needed off the last five overs but Key brought that down to 30 in four when he hit the left-arm leg-spin of Hogg for a huge straight six. This shot brought up his fifty.

It was in the next two overs, which produced only 10 runs, where England slipped up. Stewart then fell in the following over looking for a big hit and, in a frantic finale, Key, Hussain and England just failed to reach their target.

Confidence comes through scoring runs or taking wickets and in this game Key and Jones have gained both. It will be interesting to see whether the selectors show confidence in them in Brisbane.

Final day of three; England won toss

ENGLAND – First Innings 327 (N Hussain 117; M J Nicholson 6-79).

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – First Innings 213 (M J North 71no; A R Caddick 4-49).

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Second Innings (Overnight: 16 for 1)
M E K Hussey c Caddick b Jones 14
C J L Rogers lbw b Jones 86
J L Langer c Stewart b White 68
M J North c Stewart b White 0
R J Campbell c Crawley b Jones 25
G B Hogg c Trescothick b Jones 18
M J Nicholson lbw b Jones 2
B A Williams c Crawley b Giles 13
J Angel run out 10
S J Karppinen not out 3
Extras (lb4 nb4 w0) 8
Total (74.2 overs) 248

Fall: 1-9 2-23 3-164 4-164 5-178 6-203 7-219 8-222 9-240.

Bowling: Caddick 18-7-31-1; Jones 19-1-78-5; Harmison 7-0-28-0; White 13.2-1-54-2; Giles 17-4-53-1.

ENGLAND – Second Innings
M E Trescothick b Williams 19
R W T Key not out 59
C White run out 12
M A Butcher st Campbell b Hogg 7
J P Crawley c Angel b Hogg 0
ÝA J Stewart c Campbell b Nicholson 26
*N Hussain not out 7
Extras 0
Total (for 5, 20 overs) 130

Fall: 1-52 2-64 3-80 4-80 5-121.

Did not bat: A F Giles, A R Caddick, S P Jones, S J Harmison.

Bowling: Williams 8-1-41-1; Angel 5-0-37-0; Hogg 4-0-26-2; Nicholson 3-0-26-1.

Umpires: I H Lock and R G Patterson.