Andrew Strauss Makes Century But Australia Strike Back

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put on 196 for the first wicket here, an Ashes record for England on this ground, as Australia's bowlers toiled on an easy-paced pitch after losing the toss.

Australia did not make a breakthrough until the 48th over and it was Mitchell Johnson, their least impressive bowler until that period, who had Cook lbw on the back leg for 95.

After bowling eight overs for 53 in the morning session Johnson returned in the afternoon and had his first ball cut for four by Strauss and captain Ricky Ponting's head dropped with pure dejection.

Johnson's second delivery was also cut away and almost reached the boundary. It was yet another indifferent over from the left-armer but in his second over, bowling from the pavilion end, he beat Cook with one that kept a fraction low.

Ravi Bopara started with the air of man determined to impose himself on the bowling and hit four fours in his 18. But the double nelson did for England at 222 when Bopara was also lbw, this time to Ben Hilfenhaus..

England appeared to have lost their concentration, especially when Kevin Pietersen started a little skittishly. Perhaps they remembered that they had been in a strong position in the previous Test in Cardiff, only to discover that they hadn't scored enough runs after all. Pietersen looked nervous and in the last over before tea, when England were 255-2.

Strauss reached his century on the stroke of tea, from 178 balls with 15 fours.

Earlier in the session, Australia had lost the services of Nathan Hauritz, who had the middle finger of his bowling hand injured by a straight drive by Cook.

In the morning session England made an emphatic statement of intent after winning the toss and choosing to bat. At lunch they were 126 without loss after 29 overs and Australia's bowlers left the field looking a little rueful.

England's first decision was to bring in Graham Onions for Monty Panesar, the only change from their team in Cardiff. The temptation to leave out Stuart Broad, who looked so off color in the first Test, in favour of Steve Harmison, was ignored.

This looked a little tentative by England. Lord's would surely have given Harmison the pace and bounce on which he thrives, and which he has seen so little of in his recent Test matches, however much he has disappointed in terms of his own performance.

After watching the first few overs, however, the England selectors may have had a point. Despite what the groundsman, Mick Hunt, said about the pitch being full of pace and carry it looked easy-paced, with little encouragement for the quick men.

Having said that the bowling, and particularly that from Johnson, was very ordinary. Johnson's eight overs this morning cost 53 runs and he went for 11 fours. Both his length and direction were poor.

This is the least experienced Australia attack for some years – perhaps since 1948 – and they seemed to struggle to come to terms with the famous slope at Lord's.

Cook reached his fifty from 73 balls, with 11 fours, and the 100 came up in 24.2 overs. The likeliest Australia bowler was Peter Siddle but even he got clobbered as he changed ends to look for some encouragement. By the interval, however, Strauss had reached 47, while Cook had motored his way to 67.