Mark Butcher becomes Shane Warne's first Test victim for nine months (Radio 4)

Warne cemented his reputation as England's prime tormentor of recent years by claiming the scalp of Mark Butcher for 36 on the second day of the Sydney Test.

And combined with another two wickets from the ever impressive Glenn McGrath, it provided Australia with the ideal riposte to England's spectacular efforts on Saturday evening.

All eyes were on Warne at the start of the day. A capacity crowd had to wait until the 22nd over of the day before their hero bowled his first ball in Tests for nine months following shoulder surgery. But what an over it proved to be.

Butcher, who looked to impose himself on Australia's three-pronged spin attack right from the off, smashed Warne's second ball through the covers for four.

But any ideas England might have had that the world's best spinner was not up to the pace of Test cricket were immediately dashed as a fizzing delivery trapped Butcher leg before back in his crease.

Glenn McGrath claims the wicket of Alec Stewart (Radio 4)

The tourists began the day in reply to Australia's 322, a total that would have been far more formidable but for Darren Gough's stunning hat-trick just before the close of day one.

But McGrath ensured the balance of power would shift once again in this remarkable match.

The paceman was in typically fiery mood at the start of the England innings and was given his reward in the sixth over of the morning.

Stewart was first man out in the sixth over of the day

A frustrated Alec Stewart, who had been restricted to just one scoring shot, was tempted to a wide delivery and saw a sharp chance claimed by Warne, almost inevitably, in the slips at the second attempt.

Australian captain Mark Taylor then brought on his spinners, but McGrath was reintroduced to the attack after lunch - and he soon had the batsmen tied down with a persistent line and length.

Mark Ramprakash is caught at mid-off off Glenn McGrath's bowling (Radio 4)

Eventually Mark Ramprakash seemed to run out of patience and he sent a loose drive straight to MacGill at mid-off ,after looking comfortable enough during his innings of 14.

Ramprakash's departure brought Graeme Hick to the wicket and England's great enigma was in no mood to be intimidated by Warne's awesome reputation.

Hick launched the spinner for a huge six back over the bowler's head in an over that claimed 11 runs and led to Warne's withdrawal from the attack.

At the other end Nasser Hussain was building a pain-staking innings - although he did not always look too comfortable against the leg-spinners and appeared unable to read the googly from either MacGill or Warne.

But just when Hick looked to be well set for a decent score he was gone for 23, slashing a poor ball from MacGill to Warne, who took another good catch at short extra cover.

And the very next over England were in even deeper trouble. Hussain, who carried so much of the tourists' hopes, turned a ball from Miller into the safe hands of Mark Waugh close in on the off-side and was dismissed for 42.

New man Warren Hegg was immediately in trouble and only survived a stumping call off MacGill after the third umpire referred to video replays.

Scorecard:

England first innings:
M Butcher lbw b Warne 36
A Stewart c Warne b McGrath 3
N Hussain c M Waugh b Miller 42
M Ramprakash c MacGill b McGrath 14
G Hick c Warne b MacGill 23
J Crawley not out 2
W Hegg not out 3
Extras 19
Total (for 5 wickets, 50 overs) 142

Fall: 1-18, 2-56, 3-88, 4-137, 5-139

To bat: J Crawley, W Hegg, D Headley, D Gough, A Tudor, P Such.

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 c Hegg b Headley 121
S Waugh b Such 96
D Lehmann c Hussain b Tudor 32
I Healy c Hegg b Gough 14
S Warne not out 2
S MacGill b Gough 0
C Miller b Gough 0
G McGrath c Hick b Headley 0

Extras 11
Total (all out, 87.3 overs) 322

Fall: 1-4, 2-52, 3-52, 4-242, 5-284, 6-319, 7-321, 8-321, 9-321

Bowling: Gough 17-3-61-3, Headley 19.3-3-62-4, Tudor 12-1-64-2, Such 24-6-77-1, Ramprakash 15-0-56-0