more from the ashes...

somehow australia is excited to be down 319-7, i think. god i love cricket right now.

The jam-packed Oval crowd, buzzing with anticipation, cheered England skipper Michael Vaughan as if he had hit a ton when he won the toss for the third time in a row and batted first on a glorious pitch.

Marcus Trescothick settled early nerves with a couple of leg-side fours off Brett Lee, and as England grew in confidence so did the strokeplay.

Aussie captain Ricky Ponting turned to Warne after just 13 overs - at which point as many boundaries had been struck - which was a clear indication of England's ease at the crease.

Shaun Tait was toothless at the Pavilion End and, inevitably, it was Warne who made the breakthrough when Trescothick edged to Matthew Hayden at slip. It was the 18th over and England already had 82 on the board.

Strauss brought up England's 100 with a lovely cut shot, but Warne, in his last Test on English soil, was again to the fore as Vaughan spooned a simple chance to Michael Clarke at mid-wicket for 11.

Ian Bell then planted his foot in front of the stumps and was trapped lbw for a duck, sending Australia to lunch with more gains than had looked likely at one stage.