More Paine for England

With Adam Gilchrist retired and Brad Haddin out injured, Australia's reserves of wicketkeeper-batsmen show no signs of running dry and Paine's 111 was the cornerstone as the tourists made 296 for eight.

Mike Hussey also weighed in with 65 while the returning James Anderson took four for 55.

Paine started slowly but got into his stride with a four to point when Ryan Sidebottom, who started with three consecutive wides, gave him too much width outside off.

Shane Watson attempted to cut a slightly straighter Anderson delivery but only succeeded in playing on to his stumps to fall for four.

That brought in Ricky Ponting, fresh from his sterling 126 in the fifth match, and Anderson tested him with a yorker first up.

The captain, having won the toss for the first time in the series, had only six when he attempted to deposit Anderson into the stands but fell short to give Sidebottom a simple catch on the fine-leg boundary.

At 41 for two after 10 overs, England captain Andrew Strauss immediately enforced the bowling powerplay. Dimitri Mascarenhas almost succeeded in removing Hussey for a duck, but Matt Prior could not reach a bat-pad chance, while Paine was lucky to see a nick off Tim Bresnan just evade the wicketkeeper's dive.

Hussey started scratchily but with Paine continuing to play a solid hand at the other end, Australia moved into a promising position.

Paine passed 50 with a steer to third man off his 63rd delivery and hit his 10th four with a muscular push to the point boundary. At the halfway stage of the innings the third-wicket pair had moved Australia to 117.