Steely expressions from skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke as Australia walk out on to the lush MCG turf in search of early wickets following a disastrous day one of the fourth Test in Melbourne
And the hosts make the early breakthrough in the fifth over courtesy of a beautiful delivery from Peter Siddle as Alastair Cook nudges an outside edge to Shane Watson at first slip, falling 18 runs short of a third series ton
And skipper Andrew Strauss follows his opening partner back in the pavilion when Mike Hussey takes a superb one-handed catch in the gully following a thick leading edge from a nasty Siddle delivery which spits off a length
Victorian Siddle is the star of the morning session, bowling a superb line to both left-handers as England lose two wickets for just 13 runs in the first 30 minutes of play after resuming the day on 157-0
But third-wicket pair Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen steady England's second-morning nerves, with the former England captain playing a series of flamboyant leg-side shots - some more riskier than others
Mitchell Johnson, Australia's hero in Perth, cannot find the movement or control he displayed at the Waca as the third-wicket duo bring up their 50-run stand as England reach lunch at 226-2, a 128 run lead over the hosts
The afternoon session erupts in controversy as Ricky Ponting engages in a heated argument with on-field umpire Aleem Dar when a caught behind referral off Pietersen is turned down by the third umpire Marais Erasmus
Ponting continues his protestations with square leg umpire Tony Hill and the Tasmanian looks certain to face possible disciplinary repercussions from match referee Ranjan Madugalle at some stage in the match
But moments after collecting his 21st Test half century, Pietersen is trapped lbw shuffling across his crease by the resurgent Siddle, who takes his third wicket with his third delivery of the afternoon session
Paul Collingwood's miserable run of form continues as he is dismissed for his 10th single-figure score in 12 matches, caught at fine leg misjudging a pull shot off Mitchell Johnson as England stall at 281-4
But while wickets tumble at the other end, Jonathan Trott continues his attentive vigil at the crease, compiling his fifth Test half century from 118 deliveries and featuring just two boundaries
Matt Prior is reprieved with the score on 294-5 after nicking an edge to Brad Haddin off Mitchell Johnson, only to be called back by umpire Dar who discovers - via the third umpire - that Johnson has bowled a no-ball
The indefatigable Trott is momentarily floored on 72 when a thick inside edge cannons into the inside of his knee behind the pad off Ben Hilfenhaus, but the England number three eschews the offer of a runner
And through gritted teeth he scores his fifth Test hundred for England in 15 months, moving him to second in the highest run scorer list for 2010 behind India's Sachin Tendulkar
Meanwhile, Prior makes the most of his earlier reprieve and unleashes his full array of strokes in the final hour of play to finish 25 runs short of his fourth Test hundred
The unbroken 158-run stand between Trott and Prior adds to the frustration as Ponting and his players, who are certain to come under more scrutiny from their demanding media, walk off the field at stumps
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