Watford's Steve Finn took two wickets on the first day of England's final Ashes warm-up match against an Australian Invitational XI in Sydney.

Finn was handed the opportunity to stake his claim for the third seamer's spot in the test team and he finished with two for 79 off 22 overs which also included four maidens.

Preferred to Chris Tremlett dor this game, Finn will be hoping to prove wrong Michael Clarke, who claimed to know England's starting team for the first Ashes test in Brisbane and predicted Finn would not be selected.

England looked in control at 93 for five but their opponents recovered well and finished with 271 for five at the close of play.