MANCHESTER, England - A magnificent Michael Vaughan century and four dropped catches by Australia put England in a dominant position after the opening day of the third cricket test at Old Trafford.
The England skipper emerged from a form slump to blaze 166 in his side's first day total of
5-341.
Opener Marcus Trescothick made 63 and No 4 Ian Bell reached 59 not out, his highest score of the series.
Not even two inspiring acts from Australia's best two bowlers - Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne - could lift their side, as England put itself into an imperious position with the series locked 1-1.
Only two late wickets to Brett Lee (3-58) kept Australia in the contest.
McGrath made a remarkable comeback from injury to take the new ball a week after he damaged ligaments in his right ankle during the warm-up before the second test at Edgbaston.
Warne became the first man to take 600 wickets in tests, when he had Trescothick caught behind down the legside halfway through the second session.
But there was little sustained joy for Australia, as four catches went down, a run out was missed and Vaughan was bowled off a no-ball.
In a further blow, batsman Michael Clarke was off the ground for almost the entire first day with severe back pain.
Clarke left the field after the 11th delivery of the match and did not return.
A Cricket Australia spokesman said the 24-year-old had been treated for lower back pain caused by a disc irritation, and had been told to rest.
Vaughan tore into Australia's bowlers, with 21 fours and a six, and was particularly savage on Jason Gillespie (0-89), who conceded 42 runs in a four-over spell after tea.
The England captain was a different batsman from the one whose four previous test innings yielded a meagre 32 runs, as his footwork was decisive and his shot-making elegant.
He had his share of luck, as he was dropped by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on 41 (off McGrath), and then bowled next ball only for umpire Steve Bucknor to signal no-ball.
Vaughan was also dropped on 141 by Matthew Hayden at slip off Warne and should have been run out 15 runs later, only for Simon Katich to miss the stumps from backward point.
It was Katich who eventually made the breakthrough - his first wicket in 20 months - when Vaughan holed out to deep mid-on.
Warne bowled 27 overs straight and took 1-75.
Trescothick also had a chance (again dropped by Gilchrist), while McGrath put down a return chance off Bell when the youngster was on 18.
- AAP
England's captain Michael Vaughan runs down the wicket during the first day of the third test of The Ashes series. Picture / Reuters
MANCHESTER, England - A magnificent Michael Vaughan century and four dropped catches by Australia put England in a dominant position after the opening day of the third cricket test at Old Trafford.
The England skipper emerged from a form slump to blaze 166 in his side's first day total of
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