BBC Test Match Special discusses Atherton's wicket

Mike Atherton was first to go, caught at long-leg for 28.

The ex-captain attempted to sweep Glenn McGrath but was caught by Damien Fleming only yards short of the boundary.

It was the 11th time in Atherton's last 15 innings against Australia that McGrath has taken his wicket.

Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain then dug in with Hussein blasting two superb sixes off Mark Waugh to bring up the 50-partnership.

Despite Atherton's wicket the session had started well for England, but within overs Australia had broken through.

Umpire Hare had no hesitation awarding Butcher lbw (40) when he failed to make a shot to spinner Stuart MacGill and was hit on the back leg.

Alec Stewart is caught at silly point

And captain Alec Stewart became Australia's third victim - caught at silly point for three off Waugh in his first over at the crease.

England had resumed the day on 26 for no wicket after a declaration from Australian captain Mark Taylor on 237-3.

Both Butcher and Atherton had started well with Atherton hitting two fours over leg-gully in the second over of the day.

Butcher had looked the more nervous of the two, surviving a pacy delivery outside his leg-stump from Damien Fleming in his opening over.

Taylor's side batted superbly on Monday with a century from Michael Slater hastening Australia's decision to declare.

His 133 and Justin Langer's 74 has left the home side in a dominant position to draw first blood with England needing to bat out all day to secure the draw.

Scorecard:

England second innings

M A Butcher lbw MacGill 40
M A Atherton c Fleming b McGrath 28
N Hussain not out 30 A Stewart c Ponting b M Waugh 3 G Thorpe not out 0

Extras 6

Total (for three wickets, 36 overs) 107

Australia second innings

M J Slater c and b Fraser 113
M A Taylor b Cork 0
J L Langer c Mullally b Croft 74
M E Waugh not out 27
S R Waugh not out 16

Extras 7

Total (for 3 declared, 62 overs) 237

Fall 1-20, 2-182, 3-199

Bowling: Gough 6-0-50-0, Cork 5-0-18-1, Mullally 14-4-38-0, Fraser 15-1- 52-1, Croft 20-2-71-1, Ramprakash 2-0-6-0.

England first innings

M A Butcher c and b M Waugh 116
M A Atherton c M Waugh b McGrath 0
N Hussain c Healy b Kasprowicz 59
A J Stewart c Kasprowicz b MacGill 8
G P Thorpe c Langer b McGrath 77
M R Ramprakash not out 69
D G Cork c MacGill b McGratht 0
R D B Croft b Kasprowicz 23
D Gough lbw b McGrath 0
A D Mullally c Kasprowicz b McGrath 0
A R C Fraser c M Waugh b McGrath 1

Extras 22

Total (all out, 128.2 overs) 375

Fall: 1-11, 2-145, 3-168, 4-240, 5-315, 6-319, 7-360, 8-373, 9-373

Bowling: McGrath 34.2-11-85-6 (3nb), Fleming 27-5-83-0, Kasprowicz 29-7-82-2 (6nb), MacGill 24-4-70-1 (2nb), S. Waugh 3-0-17-0, Ponting 3-0-10-0, M. Waugh 8-1-18-1 (1nb).

Australia first innings
M A Taylor c Hussain b Cork 46
M J Slater c Butcher b Mullally 16
J L Langer lbw b Gough 8
M E Waugh c Stewart b Mullally 31
S R Waugh c Stewart b Mullally 134
R T Ponting c Butcher b Cork 21
I A Healy c Mullally b Fraser 134
M S Kasprowicz c Stewart b Mullally 0
D W Fleming not out 71
S C G MacGill c Stewart b Mullally 20
G D McGrath c Atherton b Croft 5

Extras 21

Total all out, 158 overs) 485

Fall: 1-30, 2-59, 3-106, 4-106, 5-178, 6-365, 7-365, 8-420, 9-445.

Bowling: Gough 34-4-135-1 (1w, 1nb), Cork 31-6-98-2 (1nb), Mullally 40-10-105-5 (3nb), Croft 23-6-55-1 (1nb), Fraser 28-7-76-1,Ramprakash 2-1-2-0.