Ballance shows form and Mills fires

England have confirmed they will not draft any more players into their Test squad, but Tymal Mills may have given Andy Flower a few things to consider after a lively burst for the EPP against a Western Australia XI.

Mills, the Essex left-arm quick who was called up to be a net bowler with the main squad at the start of the tour, removed the WA top order in their second innings during a spell of 3 for 6 which reduced the hosts to 4 for 14. Mills wickets all came in an eight-ball at the start of the innings.

Flower, however, will show faith with those in the original squad even though the three tall quicks - Chris Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and Steven Finn - have failed to impress on the tour. England's fast bowlers have not been able to compete for pace with Australia's and Mills is considered the quickest bowler in English cricket.

Of more relevance to England's potential line-up at the WACA was the form of Gary Ballance, the Yorkshire left-hander, who struck 89 having left Adelaide early to allow him to play in this match. The same applied to Jonny Bairstow, but the EPP's declaration meant he did not get an innings.

Ballance had a tough start to the Ashes tour with scores of 0 and 4 in the early tour matches before making an unbeaten 55 against the Chairman's XI in Alice Springs although Ben Stokes was preferred for a Test debut in Adelaide.

Ballance said he would be prepared to come into England's middle order if the call came. "I haven't really thought about that too much," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "I'm just trying to look at this as good preparation. If I do get a chance, I feel I am ready.''

Ballance added 193 with Sam Robson, the Australia-born Middlesex opener, and unlike Ballance, Robson converted into three figures.