Defeat no cause for pessimism - Irani

Ronnie Irani was keen to accentuate the positives after England's six-wicket defeat to a Sir Donald Bradman XI at Bowral today.

Needing 280 to win, the home side were led to the target by the former Australia batsman Mark Waugh, who made an unbeaten century as England were beaten with 21 balls to spare.

England's innings was built around a maiden international hundred from Owais Shah and a rapid 53 from Adam Hollioake, which boosted the innings in its latter stages.

Irani, who was leading England for the first time, said: "The honour was great and more than anything I believe we have got some talent in the one-day set-up. Adam Hollioake has come in there and I thought he did extremely well, he's not been with us all winter but it didn't show.

"It's a small ground but the way he hit the ball cannot be taken away from him, he got the runs on the board. Owais Shah did well and it's all about character at this level. And if you were picking on character then Adam Hollioake and these guys would be in your side.

"That's how I looked at it today, it was disappointing in that it was another England loss at this stage but there are a few guys back in Sydney who turned the Aussies over in the Test match and you have to look at the positives a little. But I am not kidding myself, the result is disappointing."

Bradman XI captain Mark Waugh said his team had half an eye on the deteriorating weather in the early stages of the chase.

"It looked very dark out the back so we wanted to make sure we had the right score at 25 overs," said Waugh. "After that it was back to normal cricket and some fun.

"(Bowral) has got a special feeling about it. Don Bradman played his cricket here and so there is that tradition about it and it's a great little ground. I would love to see New South Wales play some ING Cup games here. It's actually got that English village cricket theme about it."