Aussies fight back

Half-centuries from captain Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell hinted at the platform England needed - but neither was able to go on to three figures.

A resulting 247 for six midway through the evening session was a less advantageous position than the one Strauss might have envisaged when he chose to bat first on a cloudy morning.

Following sound work in the first session, the captain fell in early afternoon for 55 - and then Bell went to the first ball he faced after tea, for 72.

Strauss led the way before lunch with an 89-ball 50 - and he and Bell ensured an England recovery after the early elimination of Alastair Cook, who poked out at a useful delivery from Peter Siddle (three for 53) and was neatly caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting.

Bell's century stand with Strauss ended when the opener got a thin edge behind at an unthreatening delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus which ought to have been called no-ball for over-stepping.

Bell completed his own half-century with his eighth boundary, a leg-glance off Hilfenhaus, from his 73rd ball. But he and Paul Collingwood were taking no chances in a stand of 62 which was designed for consolidation until the new number four drove loosely at the hard-working Siddle and fell to a sharp catch in the gully.

Australia had successfully stifled the scoring so when Bell edged on to his stumps pushing forward in defence at Siddle during a spell of two for 11 in nine overs either side of tea, Trott and new batsman Matt Prior had work to do.

They managed some of it, only for Prior to misjudge Johnson's slower ball and fall to a leaping catch at point - making way for Andrew Flintoff to enter the fray at a crucial stage of his final Test.

But the talismanic all-rounder failed to provide the spark England needed and quickly fell for seven as he wafted at a Mitchell Johnson delivery and was caught behind the stumps by Brad Haddin.