Strauss hits ton but England pegged back

Strauss celebrated three figures from the penultimate ball before tea but the loss of six wickets either side of the second interval undermined a stunning start.

England produced their highest opening stand against Australia for 18 years to take charge of the first half of the day but they were pegged back at 333 for six when Andrew Flintoff edged to slip off Ben Hilfenhaus.

Flintoff had made just four runs off 10 balls when Australian skipper Ricky Ponting claimed the ball safely in the slips after the retiring all-rounder had been given a rapturous reception.

Matt Prior (eight) had been clean bowled by Mitchell Johnson just three overs earlier to join the mini collapse which had seen Paul Collingwood (16) lamely pick out mid-on off occasional left-arm spinner Michael Clarke.

Star batsman Kevin Pietersen (32) had perished at the start of the evening session when a thin nick off Peter Siddle carried through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Just as in Cardiff, where England snuck out of the back door with a draw, their failure to convert starts plagued them as Ravi Bopara (18) was outfoxed by Australia's stand-out bowler Hilfenhaus.

But Strauss at least made the century count in the series 1-4 with his unbeaten 119, after Cook fell five short.

The 196-run opening stand was eventually concluded by erratic left-armer Johnson when a full delivery won a straightforward leg before appeal.