England will aim to build on its best day of the Ashes tour when it resumes on 4-256 on the last day of the three-day cricket match against NSW at the SCG.

The tourists enjoyed easily their best day of the tour on Monday when they batted well against a Test-strength NSW bowling attack to gain a good hit-out in the lead-up to the Ashes.

Andrew Strauss (50) and Alastair Cook (59) both made half-centuries, while Kevin Pietersen (80 not out) and captain Andrew Flintoff (48 not out) will aim to build on their good starts.

The visitors will look to overhaul NSW's 9(dec)-355 before moving on to Adelaide, where they will have their final hit-out, against South Australia, before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, which starts November 23.

But NSW's bowlers, led by Test players Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, will also be chasing some good stints in the middle before they play at the Gabba.

Legspinner Stuart MacGill will not bowl on Tuesday, as he had a painkilling injection on an existing elbow injury, which will prevent him from rolling the arm over.

Play will start at 10.30am (AEDT) to make up some of the 17 overs lost to rain on Monday.

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