James Anderson is confident his rib injury will be no bar to Ashes success this winter.

Anderson tonight confirmed he broke a rib bone in his infamous boxing bout with Chris Tremlett during England's pre-Ashes bonding trip to Germany.

But after bowling 22 overs and taking one wicket in Western Australia's 242 for eight declared today, he confirmed he is no longer suffering any discomfort from the injury suffered at the end of September.

England closed day one of their first tour match on 10 for one, having lost Alastair Cook cheaply in the six overs they faced in deteriorating light at the WACA.

Anderson, however, was largely satisfied with the day and confident he is unlikely to suffer any further discomfort.

"I've not been thinking about the ribs for quite a while now," he said, having bowled with no evident pain in the nets for the past week.

"It's just as though it never happened. I don't feel anything at all while I'm bowling.

"To break a bone in your body is a bit of a worry and I was a bit concerned the first week after it happened.

"It was quite sore. But once I got training again and running again, I didn't feel it so I was pretty confident I'd be fine."

England got off to a flying start when Stuart Broad put himself on a hat-trick and reduced the hosts to nought for two in his first over.

But Wes Robinson (62) and Adam Voges (72) ensured WA salvaged an acceptable total.

Broad and Anderson both bowled well, while Graeme Swann improved after his first spell, but Steven Finn appeared to struggle trying to adjust his length to Australian conditions.

"It was a pretty tough pitch to bowl on, because there's not a great deal there after the ball gets softer," Anderson added.

"I think it's going to be a patience game over here when the ball gets old and I think we showed pretty good patience today."

Despite Finn's teething problems, Anderson added: "I think, in general, we're pretty happy.

"I think Swanny got better as the day went on, Broady bowled brilliantly up front, I was pretty happy with the way I bowled and Finny showed glimpses of some form."

Broad could not have hoped for a better start.

"We did mention not to peak too early on quite a long tour," Anderson joked. "But it was a great start and I think it showed the intent we've got on this tour."

Anderson believes Finn will soon be capable of much better too.

"I'm not sure how much he's bowled in Australia before," he said.

"He might take a couple of spells, a couple of good spells, to get used to the length he's got to bowl out here, which might be slightly different to the one he bowls in England.

"It might take him a couple of games, but we're confident he'll be fine. He showed enough form today to be right in the Test squad."

Robinson made the most telling contribution for WA, digging in to provide a platform after the loss of two early wickets.

He hopes his team can inflict more damage on the tourists too, as they continue their preparation for this month's first Test in Brisbane.

"We want to make life as difficult as we can for the English team," he said.

"I'd be happy to bowl them out for about 130 and get back in and make them stand in the field for a while."

Robinson also had a little sympathy for Finn, who had trouble keeping his balance in the footholds from the Lillee-Marsh Stand end.

"He was sliding quite a bit with his front foot," said the home opener.

"It can't be easy to try and bowl fast and hit good areas when your foot is sliding two or three inches. I think he just overpitched a bit too much.

"Whether he was trying to get wickets, being the third or fourth quick (bowler), he is the one probably under most pressure to lose his spot, I suppose."