The final test of the Ashes series is delicately balanced after a fine start from England gave them a fighting chance of avoiding a series white-wash against Australia.
Mark Butcher lead the charge for England and made 124 after being dropped on 13 and 43 while captain Nasser Hussain scored 75 after he was given a life-line on six, mistakes the Australia were left to rue.
Butcher eventually fell when he played on to Brett Lee four overs from the end of play, but was happy with his display. "I felt pretty good but it would have been better if I'd managed to see out the last three or four overs," he said.
"It's been tough for all of us. My form has not been as good as I would have liked, particularly after the first Test when I thought I got out of the blocks well. It was fantastic to score a hundred in front of a huge crowd but it was not until after tea that I felt in any kind of form," he added.
Filed by Rob Wright
