Adelaide, Australia: Chris Rogers and Shane Watson coasted to half centuries before England fought back with three quick wickets to restrict Australia to 174-4 at tea Thursday on day one of the second test.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat for the second time in the series and, after losing David Warner (29) to a rash shot against Stuart Broad early, was cruising at 155-1 on a flat wicket before Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann struck five balls apart.
Anderson took a low, return catch to dismiss Watson (51) and break the 121-run second-wicket stand, and Swann had Rogers (72) well caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior in the next over as Australia slumped to 155-3.
Recalled spinner Monty Panesar compounded Australia's slide when he bowled Steve Smith (6) on the last ball before tea.
After three interruptions for light showers in the first session, the second session ended with threatening gray clouds and a blustery breeze building.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who was fined for his part in a heated exchange with Anderson at the end of Australia's 381-run win in the first test, walked to the crease to loud boos from England's traveling "Barmy Army" of fans. He was not out nine at the interval and will need to follow up his century in the previous test with big runs to ensure Australia makes the most of the conditions.
Clarke had no hesitation in batting first at the revamped Adelaide Oval on a drop-in pitch that offers very little early assistance for the bowlers.
The top-order batsmen duly made solid starts before wasting them with poor shots.
Warner stroked four boundaries and raced to 29 from 32 balls before needlessly cutting a wide ball from Broad to Michael Carberry at point with the total on 34.
Watson stroked six boundaries, clouted Panesar for a six straight down the ground and had no real trouble until he mistimed another attempted straight drive and Anderson took a good catch at ankle height.
Rogers was uncharacteristically outscoring Watson in their partnership and had hit 11 boundaries, including one to raise his half century, before pushing at a ball from Swann that turned only mildly. It was the seventh time Swann has dismissed Rogers in tests.
Clarke went into the test with an unchanged XI for the first time in 12 months and high on confidence after the big win in Brisbane. England made three changes to cover for the departure of Jonathan Trott, who quit the tour due to stress after two batting failures in the first test.
Joe Root moved up the order to replace Trott at No. 3 and New Zealand-born Ben Stokes was selected for his test debut, with England opting for the Durham allrounder and recalling spinner Panesar rather than adding Tim Bresnan as a third seamer and giving batsman Gary Ballance a debut at No. 6.
Australia unsettled England with some fiery short-pitch bowling in Brisbane, but the pacemen were unlikely to extract anywhere near the same bounce out of the Adelaide wicket.
Australia won the toss
Australia, 1st Innings
Chris Rogers c Prior b Swann 72
David Warner c Carberry b Broad 29
Shane Watson c and b Anderson 51
Michael Clarke not out 9
Steve Smith b Panesar 6
Extras: (5b 2nb) 7
TOTAL: (for four wickets) 174
Overs: 58.3. Batting time: 227 minutes.
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-155, 3-155, 4-174
Still to bat: George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.
Bowling: Jimmy Anderson 15-5-45-1 (1nb), Stuart Broad 10-2-42-1, Graeme Swann 13-2-35-1, Monty Panesar 15.3-4-30-1, Ben Stokes 5-2-17-0 (1nb).
