England's bowlers put together one of their best days of the Ashes tour, against Western Australia on day one of the two-day cricket match at the WACA Ground.

James Anderson took 3-47 from 23 overs, paceman Sajid Mahmood claimed a brace, spinner Monty Panesar bowled beautifully and pulled off a run-out and strike bowler Steve Harmison gave the impression he might be close to turning the corner.

However, in an indication of England's blundering tour, WA still reached 8-309 at stumps.

Opener Chris Rogers made 66, Luke Pomersbach finished on 90 not out and Adam Voges made 31 a day after he was named in Australia's 13-man squad for the third Test, which starts Thursday.

After a tough morning session, England's bowlers gradually pegged back the home side through some good bowling.

Anderson found some early swing and Mahmood (2-61) removed Marsh and acting WA captain Marcus North in the middle session with edged inswingers.

Panesar extracted some good turn from the northern end and bowled well in his bid to win selection over rival spinner Ashley Giles.

At one point Panesar and Giles collided in their haste to field a ball, but next delivery the Sikh had Luke Ronchi caught at slip off a lovely away spinner.

Then perhaps most hearteningly for England, Harmison gave the impression he might have turned the corner after a shocking start to the tour.

The big quick, who managed only one wicket for 288 runs in the first two Tests, bowled a great spell in the last session and had Voges plumb LBW to a delivery which jagged back to the right-hander.

When Panesar darted in from mid-wicket to run out Aaron Heal (28), after a 55-run stand with Pomersbach, it completed a good day for the England fringe players, as wicketkeeper Chris Read also took three catches.

England's day could have been better had it held its catches before lunch, as Giles and Panesar gave both Rogers and Marsh a life, and the two left-handers combined for a 102-run partnership.

Harmison was expensive before lunch, but also had his share of misfortune as Giles dropped Rogers off his bowling, and he also nearly bowled Marsh with an inside edge which went for four.

Harmison finished with 1-99 and Panesar 1-69.

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