Australia in pole position

Resuming 44 runs ahead on an already imposing 479 for five, centuries from Marcus North and Brad Haddin guided Australia to 674 for six before they declared 239 runs ahead to record their highest Ashes total since being dismissed for 701 at The Oval in 1934 and their fourth-highest ever against England.

Just as they used to do so regularly with McGrath in their line-up, Australia then claimed two early wickets to leave England struggling on 20 for two, still trailing by 219 runs when rain washed out any further play at tea.

It was the first time Australia had ever had four different centurions in an Ashes innings, the only time it had been done against England by any opposition and served to emphasise how impressively they have responded to the loss of their superstars.

Such was the ferocity of Haddin's approach he raced from 50 to his hundred in just 48 balls and by the time he was caught at long-on off Paul Collingwood, he had hit 11 fours and three sixes in his brilliant 121.

North was the more methodical of the pair and remained disciplined throughout his unbeaten 125, refusing to become tempted by England's consistent tactic of bowling outside his off-stump and demonstrating a tenacity akin to former captain Steve Waugh.

Facing a tricky seven overs before tea, England knew they would have to match that determination after the energy-sapping efforts of spending 12 hours and 24 minutes in the field watching Australia pile up the runs.

Just as McGrath did all too often over the last decade, Australia exploited that situation with left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson winning an lbw appeal after swinging the ball into Alastair Cook's front pad.

Ravi Bopara followed just seven balls later when he also tried to play across his front pad and umpire Billy Doctrove upheld an appeal for lbw from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus even though television replays suggested the ball would have bounced over the stumps.