Tim Bresnan struck twice with the new ball on his England return today as Scotland struggled to make headway in rainy Edinburgh. Yorkshire paceman Bresnan, back in the fold after a two-year absence, was only added to Kevin Pietersen's squad yesterday when fellow fast bowlers Ryan Sidebottom (hip) and Chris Tremlett (heel) were ruled out by injury.

But Bresnan took his chance in the first official international between the two countries, dismissing Kyle Coetzer and Navdeep Poonia, both for ducks, after bad weather delayed the start for nearly two hours.

Thanks mainly to Bresnan, Scotland were reeling at 11 for three. But Gavin Hamilton, who played one nightmare Test for England in 1999, and Colin Smith mounted a fightback of sorts with a half-century stand. Smith fell for 36, though, and the hosts were struggling again at 93 for five from 32 overs when the rain returned.

England could scarcely have made a better start this morning. Ryan Watson, rightly sent back by Hamilton after trying to pinch a non-existent single, was well short of safety as debut-maker Samit Patel hit the target from mid-wicket.

Then Bresnan struck twice in the space of four deliveries. Durham's Coetzer and Warwickshire's Poonia edged to second and third slip respectively. Just when England were having it all their own way, though, first Hamilton and then Smith counter-attacked in fine style.

There had not been an aggressive shot before left-hander Hamilton plonked James Anderson into the crowd at midwicket during the seventh over. But that stroke inspired Smith, who followed up by hooking and straight-driving Bresnan for two more sixes.

Nearly nine years have passed since Hamilton's one and only Test appearance for England when he made nought in both innings - and failed to take a wicket - against South Africa in Johannesburg. But he has proved a handy performer for the country of his birth ever since.

Here, Hamilton reached 24 in confident style, then had two slices of luck when he was badly missed in the slips, by Jimmy Anderson, and at third man, by Luke Wright. Smith, though, was less fortunate once the stand reached 64. Trying to cut Broad, he top-edged to third man where Alastair Cook made no mistake.

Meanwhile, England's cricket bosses should decide tomorrow whether to send a team to Pakistan for next month's Champions Trophy. The ECB will be given a security briefing at Lord's, then officials are likely to contact their opposite numbers in Australia and New Zealand before informing the International Cricket Council.