The tourists lost skipper Andrew Strauss for four and Jonathan Trott for 12 in the morning session after winning the toss and batting in the three-day game.
At lunch, opening batsman Alastair Cook was working his way back to form with an unbeaten 31 while Kevin Pietersen was on 14.
Strauss, who steered England to victory in last weekend's opening tour game against Western Australia with an unbeaten 120, went cheaply in the third over.
The England captain tried to glance a delivery down the leg-side from Peter George and offered a fine touch to diving wicketkeeper Graham Manou.
Trott was dropped on 11 before he attempted to pull George in the 11th over only to dolly an easy caught and bowled for 12.
Trott had a life in the previous over when he edged paceman Ben Edmondson but was put down by Dan Harris at slip.
At lunch the giant George, who made his Test debut in India last month, had bowling figures of 2 for 16 off eight overs.
England went in with the same team which opened their tour with a six-wicket victory over Western Australia in a three-day match in Perth last weekend.
The English are out to retain the Ashes, but are also looking to win their first Test series in Australia since 1986-1987.
