Onions breaks partnership as England toil

The Durham seamer, strangely overlooked from England's attack for the first 22 overs of the second day, struck in his third over to finally halt the 152-run stand between Michael Clarke and Marcus North.

Onions won an lbw appeal against Clarke with a yorker to dismiss him seven runs short of his third century of the npower series as Australia - who resumed on 196 for four - progressed into a 204-run lead on 306 for five at lunch.

England captain Andrew Strauss chose pacemen James Anderson and Steve Harmison to try and set the tone for the hosts, but instead it was Australia's batsmen who took command with North signalling his intent with a back foot cover drive for four from the third ball of the day.

Harmison was persevering with a consistent policy of short-pitched bowling to try and exploit Clarke's restricted movement because of his abdominal strain, but it only allowed him to score runs at a rapid rate by cutting and pulling.

Australia added 65 in the first 11 overs until Strauss turned to off-spinner Graeme Swann for his first bowl of the innings in the 60th over. However, the move had little effect as both North and Clarke progressed to half-centuries.

Clarke gave one half chance just three overs before the interval with Onions inducing a leading edge which fell short of mid-off, and then earned England their breakthrough later in the same over when he won an lbw appeal.