Flying start for England

Having declared on their overnight total - 521 runs ahead on 311 for six - England were given a helping hand to claim two early wickets in their two-day quest to break Australia's resistance.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff secured an early breakthrough to remove Simon Katich with a delivery which television replays confirmed as a no-ball and then Phillip Hughes was dismissed by a controversial catch at slip by captain Andrew Strauss.

It left Australia struggling on 34 for two, but captain Ricky Ponting and experienced batsman Michael Hussey successfully steered them to 76 for two at lunch on the fourth day.

Australia, needing to beat the world record successful final innings score of 418 for seven recorded by West Indies against them at Antigua in 2002-3 to secure an unlikely victory, lost their first wicket in the fourth over of the morning.

Opener Katich had already demonstrated his ability by driving James Anderson for four to get off the mark, but attempted to do the same off Flintoff and picked out Kevin Pietersen in the gully.

It gave England an early boost in their bid to claim their first Ashes Test triumph at Lord's since 1934, but TV replays later confirmed umpire Rudi Koertzen had missed calling a no-ball after Flintoff over-stepped the crease.

Dangerous opener Hughes had already been dropped on 16 when he edged Anderson low to Flintoff at first slip, but the Lancashire all-rounder made amends in the very next over.

Going around the wicket, Flintoff induced Hughes into edging low to Strauss at first slip but Koertzen, unsure whether the catch had carried, referred to square leg umpire Billy Doctrove.

Unlike Saturday, when Ravi Bopara's pull to mid-on was referred to third official Nigel Llong and he was given the benefit of the doubt, this time Koertzen was happy with Doctrove's account and raised his finger despite television replays casting doubt over the legitimacy of the catch.