Freddie makes breakthrough

All-rounder Flintoff produced a hostile post-lunch spell of 6-2-15-1, which evoked memories of his 2005 displays and accounted for Australia's new batting star Phillip Hughes.

It left the tourists 105 for one in the afternoon session, in reply to England's 435 in Cardiff.

Left-hander Hughes emphasised his fondness for forcing the ball through the covers off the back foot before lunch but he added only eight to his interval score of 28.

Flintoff peppered him with 90mph bouncers immediately upon the resumption and was rewarded in his fourth over when he located the inside edge and wicketkeeper Matt Prior clutched a low catch.

Earlier, England exceeded their own expectations to reach 435 after off-spinner Graeme Swann hit an unbeaten 47 from only 40 balls. England had hoped to reach 400 but were guided to an even greater total by an enterprising innings from Swann, which helped add an impressive 99 in 16.5 overs before the innings finally ended.

Australia had taken little time to claim the first breakthrough of the morning with Stuart Broad being bowled by Mitchell Johnson for 19 when the ball hit the bottom of his thigh pad and bounced onto the stumps in the fourth over of the day.

But far from prompting a lower order collapse, that led to Swann inspiring an impressive counter-attack and he contributed 41 runs to a 68-run stand off only 53 balls with nightwatchman James Anderson.

The partnership was finally broken when Anderson, who battled for 77 minutes at the crease to reach 26, finally lost patience and came down the wicket to Nathan Hauritz but picked out mid-on.

Last man Monty Panesar lasted only four overs before becoming the only member of England's line-up not to reach double figures when he was caught at slip off Hauritz to end the innings.