Jon Agnew and Vic Marks round up the afternoon's action (Radio 4)

They came together after an hour's play with the score at 52-3, after pacemen Dean Headley and Alex Tudor had given England the perfect start to the final Test in a gripping morning session.

But ominously for the tourists, who need victory to level the series at 2-2, the Waughs did not take long to find their touch and soon had the scorecard ticking over at a swift rate.

Steve Waugh, who offered the sharpest of chances to John Crawley at short leg without scoring, brought up his 50 with an all-run four off an increasingly ragged Tudor.

And his brother then also passed the half-century mark with an elegant cut off Peter Such for three.

With any movement disappearing from the pitch as the afternoon wore on, the Waughs, revelling in the conditions on their home ground, tormented England's weary bowlers with a succession of sumptuous strokes.

Luck again was not on England's side, however. Mark Waugh survived a big lbw shout playing no stroke to part-time spinner Mark Ramprakash, who for once produced some serious turn.

And the same player would have been run out with ease five minutes before tea, had Alec Stewart not made a total hash of his throw from the covers.

Deano does it again

Steve Waugh averaged 98 in the series going into this match

Headley and Tudor had reduced the home side to 101-3 at lunch after England had suffered a double blow before play had even begun, losing opener Mike Atherton through injury and then the toss for the fifth time in a row.

Headley, who bowled England to victory at Melbourne in the fourth Test, struck in the fourth over of the day, when Mark Taylor edged low to Graeme Hick in the slips for two.

And his inspired spell received a second reward, when Michael Slater was tempted into a hook shot and gloved the ball to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg for 18.

Justin Langer is caught by Mark Ramprakash off Alex Tudor's bowling (Radio 4)

That left the score 52-2 and without a run being added, Justin Langer, who had suffered two major scares on his way to 26, cut a wide delivery from Tudor and Ramprakash claimed a comfortable catch at square leg.

Atherton forced out

The wickets lifted England after they had received an 11th hour blow to their hopes of levelling the series when Atherton was forced out with a recurrence of his long-term back injury.

His late withdrawal brought about a dramatic recall for Mark Butcher, who had been left out of the side on Friday.

Left-arm paceman Alan Mullally was dropped - possibly amid fears he could rough up the pitch and aid the opposition spinners - in favour of youngster Tudor.

England opted for just one specialist spinner, with Such edging out late call-up Ashley Giles, while Australia went into the match with three slow bowlers - Colin Miller, Stuart MacGill and fit-again Shane Warne.

Australia lead the series 2-1 and have already retained the Ashes - but victory at the SCG would give England a share of the series honours.

Scorecard - Tea:

Australia first innings:
M Taylor c Hick b Headley 2
M Slater c Hegg b Headley 18
J Langer c Ramprakash b Tudor 26
M Waugh not out 78
S Waugh not out 81
Extras 9
Total (for 3 wickets, 57 overs) 214

Fall: 1-4, 2-52, 3-52

To bat: D Lehmann, I Healy, D Fleming, S Warne, S MacGill, G McGrath, C Miller

England : A Stewart (captain), M Butcher, N Hussain, M Ramprakash, J Crawley, G Hick, W Hegg, D Headley, D Gough, A Tudor, P Such.