BBC News 24's Nick Mullins reports on the days play

Stewart hit his first Test century against Australia to rescue his side from another disastrous opening.

There were also suggestions that Gough's dreadful luck might be turning as he dismissed both Australian openers with a superb opening spell.

But the thrilling day's cricket was not all good news for England - Glenn McGrath had them at four for two in the first three overs of the rain delayed match.

And the first innings ended with a disappointing collapse after Stewart and Mark Ramprakash were dismissed within eight balls after a partnership of 121.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Pat Murphy reports at the close of play

The second day of the Test ended with Australia going off for bad light on 59 for two in reply to England's 270 all out.

It was the first day of action after a washout on Boxing Day when England after they were put in to bat.

Gough charged in during the final session, starting with three maidens before the breakthrough in his fourth over.

Alec Stewart: "I'll do whats asked of me" (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Michael Slater was his victim, trapped leg before as umpire Steve Bucknor kept Gough hanging on with his customary five second wait before putting his finger up.

That was at 13 for one, and the score had been doubled by the time Taylor edged the Yorkshireman to Graeme Hick.

The Worcestershire batsman gave his team-mate a late Christmas present, holding on to a catch in contrast to the spilled chances that have plagued Gough's series.

Mark Waugh and Justin Langer had taken the score along to 59 for two when bad light stopped play in the 18th over.

England's innings had been a story of early disaster followed by thrilling recovery and a familiar late decline.

It started in conditions more akin to April in England than the Australian midsummer, and it was England caught cold in the chilly winds.

Glenn McGrath almost destroyed the tourists' faint hopes of drawing the series in his first two overs, sending Mike Atherton and Mark Butcher back to the pavilion without scoring.

It was all watched by Stewart, back in his favoured opening role after giving up the wicket-keeper's gloves for this Test.

And the captain clearly decided attack was the best form of defence as he hit back in style, before Nasser Hussain was dismissed for 19 at 81 for three.

That brought Ramprakash to the wicket and the pair's century partnership took England to 200 for three with a big total finally looking a possibility in this series.

But Stewart was bowled by Stuart MacGill on 107, before his partner gave McGrath an easy catch at mid-on for 63 off Steve Waugh.

It was a typical clatter of English wickets, particularly when Warren Hegg followed for just three, again off Waugh.

But Hick and Dean Headley offered some resistance before the Kent seamer edged a catch to first slip shortly after tea to give McGrath a third wicket.

Hick decided to accelerate the scoring rate but was caught off MacGill trying for one too many big hits, and this provoked the familiar collapse.

Gough went in similar fashion to Stewart to an even straighter ball from MacGill, and then Alan Mullally predictably completed a fifth duck of the series.

He was the leg spinner's fourth victim as he ended with figures of four for 61.

The last seven wickets had fallen for 70 runs, a slight improvement on recent form but a disappointment after the hopeful signs shown by Stewart and Ramprakash.

Nevertheless Gough was clearly determined to keep England in the game, as he produced the fastest bowling of the day in a fierce spell.

It set up an interesting match situation before the umpires offered the Australian batsmen the light with nine overs remaining.

Australian first innings

M Taylor c Hick b Gough 7
M Slater lbw b Gough 1
J Langer not out 26
M Waugh not out 12

Extras 13

Total 59 for 2 (18 overs)

To bat: S Waugh, D Lehmann, D Fleming, I Healy, S MacGill, G McGrath, M Nicholson

Fall: 1-13, 2-26

Bowling: Gough 7-5-15-2, Headley 7-1-18-0, Mullally 3-1-12-0, Ramprakash 1-0-5-0

England first innings

M Atherton c Healy b McGrath 0
A Stewart b MacGill 107
M Butcher c Langer b McGrath 0
N Hussain c Healy b Nicholson 19
M Ramprakash c McGrath b S Waugh 63
G Hick c Fleming b MacGill 39
W Hegg c Healy b S Waugh 3
D Headley c Taylor b McGrath 14
D Gough b MacGill 11
A Fraser not out 0
A Mullally lbw b MacGill 0

Extras 14

Total 270 all out (76 overs)

Fall: 1-0, 2-4, 3-81, 4-200, 5-202, 6-206, 7-244, 8-266, 9-270

Bowling: McGrath 22-5-64-3, Fleming 19-3-71-0 Nicholson 10-0-59-1, MacGill 19-2-61-4, S Waugh 6-2-8-2

Australia won toss and decided to field