Anderson strikes for England

England's pre-match preparations were hit once again with the news that Stuart Broad would miss the end of the series with an inflamed knee, but Anderson ensured his absence was not felt too keenly as he helped keep the tourists to 67 for two off 15 overs.

Ponting won a first toss of the series and opted to bat but fell cheaply looking to get after the Lancashire paceman, with opener Tim Paine holding firm on 43 not out.

There were five wides in the first two overs, two from Anderson and three in a row from Ryan Sidebottom, as the new ball offered a little early swing.

Paine started slowly but got into his stride with a four to point when Sidebottom gave him too much width outside off stump. Watson attempted a similar shot off a slightly straighter Anderson delivery and only succeeded in playing on to his stumps to fall for four.

That brought in Ponting, fresh from his sterling 126 in the fifth match, and Anderson quickly tested him.

His first delivery was full and straight, the Australia captain doing well to block it out, and there was a muted appeal for caught behind two balls later when Anderson beat the outside edge.

Sidebottom was struggling though, first conceding four wides and then allowing Ponting to get off the mark with a clipped four as his line continued to falter.

He added just two more before attempting to deposit Anderson into the stands, falling short to give Sidebottom a simple catch on the fine-leg boundary.

At 41 for two after 10 overs, Andrew Strauss immediately enforced the bowling powerplay. Dimitri Mascarenhas almost succeeded in removing Mike Hussey for a duck, but Matt Prior could not reach a bat-pad chance, while Paine was lucky to see a nick off Tim Bresnan just evade the wicketkeeper's dive.