Australia stem tide

Having won the toss and decided to bat first, England dominated Australia's attack and forged a 196-run opening stand - their highest ever in an Ashes Lord's Test.

But despite being without off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for most of the afternoon session after he was forced to go to hospital with a suspected fractured right middle finger, Australia fought back to claim two wickets in six overs. That double breakthrough halted England's progress but Andrew Strauss guided them to 255 for two at tea with his 18th Test century to boost their hopes of claiming their first victory in a Lord's Ashes Test since 1934.

It was Australia's attack that was the focus of attention on the first morning as they struggled to cope with the problems of the Lord's slope.

The only exception was swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, who provided Australia captain Ricky Ponting with control throughout the morning session and conceded only 16 runs from his nine overs.

Mitchell Johnson was so erratic, it prompted Ponting to make four bowling changes in five overs at one stage and, when he returned from the Nursery End, he conceded 22 runs in only three overs before off-spinner Hauritz was brought on as his replacement.

Despite frequent bowling changes, the tourists failed to earn the breakthrough and their frustration grew when Strauss was dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off Hilfenhaus on 48, only for umpire Billy Doctrove to signal a no-ball for over-stepping.

Australia's luck took a further turn for the worse when Strauss, then on 52, drove back down the wicket but Hauritz was unable to hold the return catch and walked off immediately for treatment to his injured finger.

It left Australia with only three frontline bowlers but they responded well, with Johnson finally making the breakthrough when he hit Cook on the back leg and won an lbw appeal with the Essex left-hander only five runs short of his century.

That scalp was also Johnson's 100th Test wicket in his 23rd appearance and was quickly followed by Australia's second breakthrough, with Ravi Bopara given lbw for 18 after being hit on the front pad by a Hilfenhaus inswinger.