Tait claimed the wicket of England opener Andrew Strauss, leg before wicket for a two-ball duck, in the first of three erratic overs of fast bowling.

The South Australian slinger is vying for the third fast bowler's spot in the Test team with Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson.

Tait began his spell with a delivery that nearly decapitated first slip and ran away for wides but he had Strauss lbw two deliveries later to a scorcher.

England responded to the shock of the Strauss dismissal by sending in fast bowler Matthew Hoggard as nightwatchman.

At the close of a fluctuating first day's play in the three-day tour match, England were 24 for one in reply to the home team's declaration of 247 for seven.

Alastair Cook, likely to be promoted to open the England innings in next Thursday's Brisbane Test following the return home of Marcus Trescothick, was on six and Hoggard 10 not out, having survived a testing period, crowded by fieldsmen.

"He's (Tait) an exciting breed. You don't get too many fast bowlers that bowl that quick," Lehmann said.

"So you'd like to see him play (Tests) and hopefully he gets his chance in Brisbane.

"Really, it's up to the selectors (to decide) whether they want two of those type of bowlers (with fellow speedster Brett Lee) in their side, or they don't."

Earlier, Lehmann crafted a fine rearguard innings, only to throw away a century with a run out.

Lehmann and Cameron Borgas steadied South Australia from 25 for four in the first hour with a partnership of 157 but both played a major part in their dismissals.

Lehmann was out for 99 when he took on James Anderson's throw from the deep and failed to make his ground while trying to complete a second run.

The former Test batsman played beautifully, driving the quicks and sweeping and nudging the spinners.

Borgas played the anchor role to support his skipper but was out for 73 when he attempted to slog left-arm spinner Monty Panesar over mid-wicket.

Instead he only skied the ball to Cook, who took a comfortable catch near the boundary.

Hoggard made early inroads for England with a spell of 3-16 and finished the innings with 3-40.

England claimed 4-4 in 19 balls to have South Australia 25 for four at one stage.

Anderson took the first wicket of the match and had 1-14.

England twice made double breakthroughs, first when Anderson had former Test opener Matthew Elliott (11) caught behind to an underneath edge and Hoggard had Daniel Harris (10) caught at third slip next ball.

Minutes later Hoggard had Mark Cosgrove (one) caught down the legside off the glove and then next ball Callum Ferguson (duck) padded up to a straight delivery and was out lbw.

Panesar (1-54) found it heavy going in his attempt to claim the spinner's role in the Test side.

England coach Duncan Fletcher was happy with Panesar's efforts, although he wanted him to bowl with more flight and loop instead of darting deliveries in.

"He's just got to make sure he doesn't fire it in as much. I think he needs to give it a bit more air," Fletcher said.

England's pace attack lacked punch as Steve Harmison sat out the game when management opted not to risk him when he awoke with tightness in his side.