Bell falls after tea

The Warwickshire batsman was closing in on a maiden Ashes hundred after England opted to bat first in the npower series decider.

However, Bell (72), promoted to number three in a reshuffled top order, became Siddle's third victim of the day - bowled via an inside edge - to leave England on 181 for four.

Andrew Strauss' team, needing to win to regain the Ashes once more, began strongly but lost two cheap wickets in the afternoon session.

Strauss' century stand with Bell was terminated in the third over after lunch when the former nibbled needlessly at a delivery he might have left alone and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a good low catch.

Replays suggested Ben Hilfenhaus had actually over-stepped but Strauss trudged off, having hit a fluent 55.

Paul Collingwood, another of the senior men shunted up a position, was off the mark from his fifth delivery but also survived early on when the Australians claimed a caught behind.

Bowler Hilfenhaus and first-slip Michael Clarke's lack of animation, however, perhaps persuaded umpire Billy Bowden to turn down the shout for the thinnest of nicks.

Although Ricky Ponting's displeasure was obvious, Collingwood added only four runs before slicing a drive straight to gully to hand Siddle a second success. That brought debutant Jonathan Trott to the crease, to a warm ovation.

Earlier in the day, Alastair Cook had made just 10 when he poked at a useful delivery from Siddle and was neatly caught at second slip by Ponting.