Root and Brook miss out, Pope makes half-century

Joe Root and Harry Brook failed to spend meaningful time in the middle in England's Ashes warm-up game, but Ollie Pope passed 50 on the second day against England Lions.

Root played a soft hook to be caught at mid-wicket off Matthew Potts for one, while Brook's skittish two suggested a disdain for this tour game.

In Brook's first 15 deliveries he twice danced down the pitch and attempted a T20-style scoop at opening bowler Matthew Fisher. From Brook's 16th delivery, he again advanced towards seamer Nathan Gilchrist, ending well outside leg stump as the ball hit the top of off.

The dismissals of Root and Brook were part of an overall slide of four wickets for 16 runs after openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley shared 182.

But Pope put his place in the team for the first Test against Australia beyond doubt with a measured unbeaten 50. Captain Ben Stokes, in his first innings since July, has been patient for an unbeaten 24.

England took tea on 263-4 in response to the Lions' 375, a total corrected by the scorers from 382 on day one.

Fast bowler Mark Wood remains at Lilac Hill and is due to have a scan on his left hamstring later on Friday.

Live score updates can be found here (external site).