Ambrose makes most of tour opportunity.

Byline: By RICHARD GIBSON Sports Correspondent

DEPUTY wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose hit a half-century in his first England appearance of the winter against a Barbados Cricket Association President's XI.

Ambrose, whose only involvement previously has been as a substitute fielder, grabbed the opportunity for a rare innings to reach tea unbeaten on 64 in a score of 268 for four.

England were keen for Ambrose to get some action as he is certain to play at least one of the final two Tests of the series.

First-choice Matt Prior is currently scheduled to return home on March 2, the final evening of the Barbados Test, to attend the birth of his first child.

However, if his wife Emily goes into labour before Thursday's start, Prior will quit the tour immediately, meaning his former Sussex team-mate Ambrose would be thrust into the match at Kensington Oval.

Ambrose walked into bat after lunch when captain Andrew Strauss retired on 66, and lost both Ian Bell and Prior, for nought, in the opening hour of the restart.

But an unbroken 95-run stand with Ravi Bopara, playing a matter of hours after a long-haul flight from New Zealand, kept up the healthy scoring rate against a young home team.

Ambrose's 50 came off 74 balls while Bopara reached his own landmark, just before tea, from three balls less, having hit eight fours and a straight six off off-spinner Rostin Chase.

That blow rubbed salt into the wounds for Chase, who had Bopara dropped on 23 at deep midwicket in the previous over.

When Ian Bell and Matt Prior sliced catches off seamer Kevin Stoute after the interval, the tourists were 173 for four.

Bell, currently out of the Test side, guided to gully for 44 while Prior mishit to point in the space of two overs.

England should have lost more wickets but Strauss was put down at backward point, on 19, after top-edging an attempted hook off fast bowler Barrington Yearwood early on.

Four fielders converged on the ball but wicketkeeper Ronaldo Arthur called for the catch, despite being furthest away, and contrived to bodge the opportunity.

England - asked to bat first in a two-day game restricted to 90 overs on first innings - lostAlastairCook in the second over after drinks when he tamely chipped a delivery from 6ft 7in teenage fast bowler Jason Holder straight to mid-on.

Holder, 17, then added a second scalp when Owais Shah spiralled an attempted pull down to fine leg where Corey Edwards tumbled forward to take the catch after initial misjudgment.

Moments earlier, Strauss continued his recent rich form by celebrating a 65-ball 50.

England gave run-outs to tour newcomers Bopara and Amjad Khan, fresh from commitments with England Lions, to cover the injured Andrew Flintoff.

Ryan Sidebottom was deemed fit to play despite an Achilles problem which assistant coach Andy Flower termed 'chronic' in the aftermath of the Antigua Test draw.

CAPTION(S):

HITTING OUT: Ravi Bopara goes looking for boundaries at Windward Park, Barbados