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England fight back

BRISBANE, Australia, Friday (AFP) England recovered some of their battered cricketing pride here Friday to revive their hopes of saving the opening Ashes Test with three days left.

England, lambasted for their abject opening day when Australia helped themselves to 364 runs for two, clawed back some credibility claiming the last eight wickets for 128 to dismiss them for 492.

At stumps, the tourists crowned a heartening day to be 158 for one with Marcus Trescothick unbeaten on 63 and Mark Butcher not out 51. The follow-on target is 292. Trescothick brought up his 15th Test half-century in 142 minutes off 97 balls. He clubbed Shane Warne over wide mid-on for six.

Michael Vaughan ripped into Glenn McGrath early to seize a psychological series edge, but McGrath won out in the end, tempting him to edge to 'keeper Adam Gilchrist for 33 off 36 balls for his 404th Test scalp.

Australia missed a couple of chances to ram home their advantage.

Trescothick was dropped by Damien Martyn at third slip off McGrath when he was two, Martyn flinging himself to his right, while Butcher (14) was put down by a diving Matthew Hayden in the slips cordon off Andy Bichel.

Butcher had a second life on 38 when Gilchrist fumbled a stumping chance off the beguiling Warne.

He went on to smash the champion leggie for three consecutive fours late in the day and claimed his 12th Test 50 five overs before stumps. Warwickshire spinner Ashley Giles snared 4-101, his best against Australia, while pace spearhead Andy Caddick stepped up with 3-108 from 35 overs.

Caddick, disappointing on Thursday, was a different proposition on the second day, bowling a tighter line and was rewarded with the wickets of Hayden (197), skipper Steve Waugh (7) and Warne.

Warne was the unlikely Australian star, chipping in with his eighth Test half-century and second against England with an energetic 57 off 65 balls.

The legspinner clouted eight fours, some majestic along-the-ground cover drives, before he top-edged Caddick to Butcher at deep fine leg.

England had a rousing morning, rebounding from Thursday's gloom to send Hayden, Martyn, Waugh and Gilchrist on their way.

Hayden added 13 to his overnight 186 before he gloved to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart ending his 395-minute vigil.

Martyn, batting in Mark Waugh's No.4 spot, was circumspect for 26 in 122 minutes before he edged to Trescothick at first slip off Craig White.

After stalling Australia's scoring for 25 minutes the tourists captured the important wicket of Waugh for seven in 71 minutes.

Waugh fell to a well-laid English trap, caught at short leg by John Crawley off a lifting Caddick delivery.

There was more glee for England with the dangerous Gilchrist, who averages 58 batting at No.7, playing White away from his body to Giles in the gully and Australia were 415 for six.

Warne and Darren Lehmann, back in the Australian team after almost four years, added 63 for the seventh wicket in even time before Lehmann lazily drove to Butcher at extra cover off Giles for 30.

Home-town favourite Andy Bichel went next ball lbw and Jason Gillespie saw off Giles' hat-trick attempt before Warne's splendid cameo came to an end. McGrath only lasted two balls before he was lbw to give Giles his fourth wicket of the innings.

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