James Anderson claimed two key breakthroughs for England with the second new ball on Friday to interrupt Australia's progress towards a first-innings lead in the opening Ashes Test.

The Lancashire seamer struck twice in the space of 14 balls to dismiss opener Simon Katich and Michael Hussey, and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar dismissed Australian captain Ricky Ponting on the third morning of the first npower Test in Cardiff.

It left Australia - who had resumed 186 runs behind on a commanding 249 for one - on 348 for four at lunch, still trailing England by 87 runs.

It was not until England took the second new ball that they began gaining some encouragement, although Ponting hit Anderson for two boundaries in its first over - and Andrew Flintoff's first ball of the following over flew so wide that wicketkeeper Matt Prior had to take it in front of first slip.

But once Anderson found his range and began to swing it, Australia looked less comfortable - with Katich finally falling for an impressive 122 in the fifth over of the new ball.

Katich, who added 239 runs with Ponting, had shown his bravery in the previous over when he allowed a bouncer from Flintoff to hit him on the back rather than risk playing it. But Anderson swung the ball into him and hit him on the front pad to persuade umpire Billy Doctrove to finally lift his finger.

Anderson struck again six overs later, Hussey attempting to drive outside off-stump but edging behind to give Prior a low catch.

England captain Andrew Strauss decided to replace Anderson with Panesar four overs later, and the switch brought immediate rewards when he claimed Ponting's scalp.

Ponting had just reached another milestone, progressing to his 150, when he spotted a short ball from Panesar and rocked back to try to add to his 14 fours and a six.

For one of the few times in his innings spanning over five hours, however, Ponting mis-timed his shot and got a bottom edge onto his stumps to give England an unexpected bonus before the interval.