Bopara stakes his claim

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Bopara, 24, began the international summer with an unbeaten 118 which held England together after a post-lunch collapse in the first npower Test, and allowed them to close the opening day on 289 for seven.

His opportunity at number three, ahead of rivals Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell, came after he hit a century as a fill-in for the Barbados Test two months ago. Omitted for the final match of that series in England's bid to dismiss their hosts twice, he made the most of his recall to put his name in the frame to face the Australians in the summer's box office event.

Captain Andrew Strauss, named England player of the year at an awards ceremony in the Lord's Long Room on Monday night, was the first to fall in the seventh over as he swished fatally at a Jerome Taylor delivery outside off-stump.

Alistair Cook and Bopara than shared a partnership of 64 before Cook's lack of footwork resulted in him re-directing the ball back into the stumps off Fidel Edwards.

Kevin Pietersen, in his first innings in this country since his high-profile demise as captain in the new year, was then spectacularly dismissed first ball by Edwards when a full delivery left him in the air and flew off the outside edge through to Danish Ramdin, who changed direction to cling on one-handed.

More outswing from Edwards was rewarded with a third afternoon success when Paul Collingwood edged low to second slip, where Devon Smith made the chance look easy.

Bopara then had to play second fiddle to Matt Prior during a stand of 84 for the fifth wicket. Having hit eight boundaries in 42, which sent him through the 1000-run barrier in Tests, Prior slapped his first ball after tea straight to cover to provide Edwards a fourth success.

Stuart Broad was then dropped four times as he made a useful 38 before his luck finally ran out when he sliced one to backward point off the giant Sulieman Benn.

Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan, one of England's two debutants in the contest, was then harshly adjudged leg before to a Benn delivery angling in, on the eve of stumps.