ENGLAND hit their stride immediately at the Commonwealth Games after their wheelchair basketballers breezed past their group opponents to qualify for the semi-finals.

Barrow’s Tyler Baines was one of just four athletes selected for the main roster in the new 3x3 wheelchair basketball format and contributed five points against South Africa and a further two against Malaysia.

These were important contributions to 17-2 and 19-9 victories respectively.

Before the competition Baines said that he was 'hell-bent' on succeeding at the games, which features a never-before-seen 3x3 format of the game.

"It's good, but difficult because none of us have ever really done it before, being the coach or tactics but everyone's looking forward to it, it's something new," he said.

"We've spent a few training sessions and a few camps doing it.

"There's new rules with it and they're totally different to 5v5, it's on a half court as well so there's a lot of stuff to get used to with the rules and how you play."

Despite his 'biggest achievement' being signing his first professional contract in Spain last year, his sights are on further international competition for his home country.

"Next season I'm going to stay in England and play in England. We've got selection for the World Championships at the end of August in Dubai so I'm looking forward to that and seeing if I get selected for that."

Accompanying him are GB men’s athlete - two-time Paralympic bronze medallist and current World and European Champion - Lee Manning, as well current Diploma in Sporting Excellence athletes Charlie McIntyre and Abderrahim Taghrest.

Played on half-court, with the same height basket as basketball, 3x3 wheelchair basketball is quick and intense with teams having just 12 seconds to shoot during each phase of play with games played over a single period of ten minutes.

Baines was in action again last night against Australia in the semi-finals of the tournament.