Aussies Take Charge

England had resumed on 295 for four but lost their last six wickets for 47 runs and were dismissed for 342.

Jason Gillespie claimed four for 10 in 6.5 overs and Shane Warne chipped in with two for 10. Australia closed on 247 for two, with Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 83.

Openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden forged a century partnership in just 19 overs. Craig White and Richard Dawson dismissed both in a three-over spell, but they failed to slow the momentum.

And Australia were helped by a sub-standard display in the field in which four catches went down. Hayden was missed twice and Damien Martyn was also given two reprieves.

Gillespie sparked England's slide as he made amends for a wicketless first day by striking twice inside the first seven overs. Mark Butcher became his first victim on the 19th ball of the day when he edged behind to diving wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. White fell for one after unwisely hooking Gillespie to Bichel in the deep.

Dawson resisted for 48 minutes before giving Warne his first wicket of the day when he was trapped lbw and Andrew Caddick was bowled in the spinner's next over attempting to sweep. Gillespie trapped Alex Stewart leg and had Matthew Hoggard caught behind later in the same over.

Steve Harmison almost claimed a wicket with his third ball, with Hayden cutting fiercely only for Butcher to fail to collect a difficult chance above his head.

Caddick also nearly broke through in the next over, failing to collect a difficult return catch from Hayden, who raced to 46 from only 72 balls before his luck ran out and an attempted drive over the top instead looped to mid-on.

Then three overs later Langer fell just two runs short of his half-century when Stewart appealed for a catch behind and he was given out by umpire Steve Bucknor, although television replays indicated he was trapped leg before.

That was the cue for Ponting to play a disciplined but commanding innings, hitting only two boundaries on his way to another half century.

Martyn enjoyed more fortune, being dropped by Stewart off Dawson and then being missed again by the wicketkeeper, who failed to get a glove to an edge off Steve Harmison that raced away for four. The let-offs allowed Martyn to progress to 48.