After openers Marcus Tres-cothick (90) and Andrew Strauss put on 112 runs for the first wicket, Australia hit back taking three quick wickets before the hard-hitting pair of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Petersen combined to wrest the initiative again.

Flintoff made a quickfire 68 off 62 balls with help of five sixes while his in-form partner slammed a 76-ball 71.