Strauss century guides England

Strauss celebrated three figures from the penultimate ball before tea but the loss of six wickets for 137 runs in the second half of the day somewhat undermined a stunning start.

England produced their highest opening stand against Australia for 18 years to take charge of the contest but they were pegged back to 364 for six by the close.

Just as in Cardiff, where England snuck out of the back door with a draw, their failure to convert starts plagued them but Strauss at least made the century count in the series 1-4 with his unbeaten 161.

His 196-run alliance with Alastair Cook (95) was eventually concluded by erratic left-armer Mitchell Johnson when a full delivery won a straightforward leg before appeal.

Their effort, however, represented the best-ever start to a Lord's Test against the Australians and was the highest anywhere against them since Michael Atherton and Graham Gooch's 203 in Adelaide in 1990-91.

To compound Australia's woe, Nathan Hauritz was forced out of their attack after a return chance from Strauss made a mess of his bowling hand, while they had to carry a misfiring Johnson.

All the impetus mustered from escaping out of Cardiff with a draw appeared to have been carried down the M4 as Strauss' team dominated the morning after winning the toss.

Buoyed by key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff passing a fitness test on his troublesome right knee, England went through the morning session unscathed only to stutter in the face of an Australia fightback.