Kevin Pietersen catches up on Ashes tour

Allrounder Kevin Pietersen was in catch-up mode Monday after making a delayed start to England's Ashes cricket tour to Australia.

The England team arrived in Australia early on Friday morning but Pietersen was granted a short compassionate leave to remain in England after the death of a friend.

He arrived on Sunday, too late to join his England teammates in their first training session of the tour. But he was able to bat in the nets at Perth's WACA ground on Monday, to begin his preparation for the first test which starts at Brisbane on Nov. 21.

Meanwhile, two-test spinner Michael Beer will captain a West Australia XI against England in a four-day match starting on Thursday.