Siddle puts Aussies on top

England were 108-1 at lunch but succumbed to Australian bowling that improved throughout the day. Stuart Broad (26 not out) and Graeme Swann (caught behind off Siddle to the last ball of the day) took the total past 300.

Opener Alastair Cook was dismissed in the sixth over by Siddle for 10,edging a ball on off-stump to Ricky Ponting at second slip. Strauss and Bell then added 102 for the second wicket.

Strauss plundered 11 boundaries and was in fluent touch. He registered the century stand in the second over after lunch but next over edged an innocuous ball outside off stump from Ben Hilfenhaus to the wicketkeeper. That was 114-2.

Bell had an early scare as one delivery,a bouncer over leg-stump,flicked his bare wrist and carried through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. It was a torrid start,but Bell withstood the pressure.

Collingwood got out to a loose shot to a wide ball outside off-stump from Siddle,edging to Mike Hussey at gully. He made a laboured 24 in 90 minutes.

Bell’s bid for a maiden century against Australia was scuppered on the first ball after tea when a deflection off the inside edge of his bat knocked over off stump,giving Siddle his third wicket and 2-11. The score was then 181-4.

Trott gained in composure after a textbook cover drive for four off Stuart Clark,though his next delivery landed safely off a leading edge.

Prior (18) departed after a promising stand with Trott worth 48,when he was outfoxed by a slower delivery from Johnson. He spooned up a catch to Shane Watson at point to make the score 229-5.

Flintoff glided a Johnson ball to the third-man boundary for his first runs and next ball was struck by a bouncer on his left shoulder. He was the sixth wicket to fall (247-6) and closely followed by Trott,who was run out by short leg fielder Simon Katich after battling for 127 minutes.