ENGLAND suffered their first-ever defeat in the traditional opener to the Ashes series, slumping to a 58-run defeat against the ACB Chairman's XI in front of a capacity 10,000 crowd at Lilac Hill.

Chasing a formidable 301 for seven, the highest-ever total scored in the annual fixture against Australia's tourists, they crumbled to 243 all out in reply after captain Nasser Hussain and Robert Key had briefly raised hopes with a 135-run partnership spanning 21 overs.

Their reply began badly with Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher falling inside the first three overs to leave England struggling on 11 for two but Key and Hussain combined effectively to keep their side on course to overhaul the Chairman XI's total.

Once they fell within four overs of each other having both scored impressive half centuries, England's challenge collapsed and they lost their last five wickets for only 33 runs in nine overs.

The finale to England's reply was in keeping with an equally disappointing display in the field when wayward bowling was complimented by a scrappy fielding performance with Alec Stewart and James Foster both missing catches behind the stumps.

While the tourists were encouraged by Simon Jones' ability to get through eight overs - and take a wicket with his first ball - on his first real outing since suffering a side strain on his Test debut against India in July fellow fast bowler Steve Harmison was woeful.

The Durham paceman delivered 16 wides during seven overs which cost 42 runs, including eight in one 14-ball over which was reminiscent of Scott Boswell's famous self-destruction for Leicestershire in the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester final against Somerset.

Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Caddick also struggled for rhythm and sixth-wicket pair Mike Hussey and Kade Harvey set about spinners Ashley Giles and Richard Dawson during a 152-run partnership.

Harmison's humiliation occurred in the 16th over with the Chairman's XI on 73 for two after Jones had struck in the previous over to remove destructive opener Chris Rogers.

He began the over with a wide before Chairman's XI captain Hussey claimed a single off the next ball and then Harmison lost all composure and umpire Bruce Bennett was forced to signal seven successive wides.

Harmison broke the sequence by going around the wicket to deliver a dot ball to Campbell, who hit a two off the next ball before being dropped off the glove by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart as he attempted to hook.

It completed a miserable over for Harmison, who was immediately removed from the attack as captain Nasser Hussain introduced Ashley Giles to great effect, claiming a double wicket maiden in his second over.

Jones at least had the consolation of finally ending Hussey's resistance three overs before the end of the innings for 69 having been dropped earlier in the over by Foster before Harvey's brilliant 114 was ended in the final over when he clipped Caddick to Trescothick at third man.