Australia's three-pronged spin attack caused all kinds of problems for England and the dismissal of key men Nasser Hussain and Graeme Hick saw them reduced to 161-5 at tea.

Earlier leg-spin legend Shane Warne had burst back onto the Test scene in explosive fashion with a wicket in his first over of the series, while paceman Glenn McGrath claimed another two scalps.

The tourists had taken lunch at the relatively comfortable position of 82-2 - but events in the afternoon ensured that the balance of power in this fascinating match would swing back in Australia's favour.

Instant impact for wonder Warne

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.

All eyes were on the flamboyant leg-spinner 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 yet up to the pace of Test cricket were immediately dashed as a fizzing delivery trapped Butcher leg before back in his crease.

McGrath reaches 200 not out

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 was in typically fiery mood at the start of the England innings and was given his reward when he took his 200th Test wicket 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.

McGrath was reintroduced to the attack after lunch and he claimed his second victim when Mark Ramprakash seemed to run out of patience and sent a loose drive straight to MacGill at mid-off for 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.

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

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.

Hick falls to loose stroke

Hussain was dismissed after steadily building 42

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 chance off MacGill after the third umpire referred to video replays.

But together with John Crawley, who looked to punish the occasional loose ball from the spinners, Hegg hung on until tea.

Scorecard - Tea:

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 16
W Hegg not out 8
Extras 19
Total (for 5 wickets, 60 overs) 161

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

To bat: 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