England coasted to victory in their first warm-up match in Australia, crushing an obliging ACT (Australian Capital Territory) XI by 216 runs in Eoin Morgan’s first game as full-time captain.

The calibre of the opposition, which included only one fully contracted state player in Scott Henry, means excitement will be kept to a minimum but the fixture provided most of the squad with valuable practice at the Manuka Oval.

A reshaped top four of Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, James Taylor and Joe Root all made half-centuries and there was an explosive late partnership between all-rounders Ravi Bopara and Chris Woakes worth 105 in just 50 balls.

That carried England to an imposing total of 364 for six and the home batsmen were unable to get close as they were skittled for 148 in the 33rd over.

Spinner James Tredwell took three for 11 to rip out the middle order, while there were two wickets each for Stuart Broad and Moeen.

Both Broad and James Anderson looked fit on their return from knee injuries, sending down seven overs each.

England gave a hint to their Tri-Series and World Cup pecking order by leaving Gary Ballance and Alex Hales on the sidelines despite being permitted to use all 15 squad members.

Tredwell declared England’s walk-in-the-park victory the ideal start to their time in Australia, but acknowledged there would be tougher times around the corner.

“First and foremost, playing these warm-up games of 13 or 14 a side, you want to give everyone a good go and clearly we’ve done that.

“Seven or eight of the batters got good time in the middle, there were five 50s and all the bowlers got a few overs under their belt so it’s a good way to start the tour.”

Things are likely to get significantly harder tomorrow, when England take on a strong Prime Minister’s XI.

Australian World Cup players Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins are both in that side, which will be captained by Test opener Chris Rogers.

Tredwell said that Morgan’s captaincy “wasn’t a great deal different to be honest, but obviously we weren’t put under as much pressure as we may be on some other games on the tour. That will be the time we’ll see some differences I’m sure.”

As for his own performance, Tredwell found himself in the unusual position of being hooked from the attack for being too successful.

England still managed to get seven overs apiece out of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the strike bowlers who missed the recent tour of Sri Lanka with knee injuries.