Day two begins with Brad Haddin joining Mike Hussey at the crease as Australia resume on 134-4, but Haddin - promoted to number six - edges James Anderson to keeper Matt Prior in the fourth over of the day
Steve Smith, demoted below Haddin, tries to go on the attack as Australia try to rescue a wretched position, needing to win the Test to avoid losing the series
England's march towards their first Ashes series win in Australia since 1986/87 appears to meet with royal approval from the head of state of both competing nations
Australia's scoring rate slows to a crawl, barely two runs per over - their slowest Test innings since 1999 - as Mike Hussey, so often the anchor-man after a top-order batting collapse, is forced to dig in once more
But after an inspired bowling change, Hussey perishes to Paul Collingwood's medium pace as he edges the delighted Durham all-rounder onto his stumps; Australia are 171-6
The wickets continue to tumble as Smith and Peter Siddle both edge into the slip cordon in the space of one James Anderson over; the Lancashire paceman now has 20 wickets in the series
Ben Hilfenhaus is struck a painful blow by a Chris Tremlett bouncer, but he plays the supporting role as his partner Mitchell Johnson hits several boundaries; Australia reach 230-8 at lunch
England are held up after the interval as Johnson and Hilfenhaus add 76 for the ninth wicket - the highest partnership of the innings - with some lusty hitting to thrill the SCG crowd
Johnson and Hilfenhaus both hoist huge sixes, but the former perishes when he swings and misses one too many times and is bowled as Tim Bresnan collects his third wicket
While debutant Michael Beer scores his first Test runs, Hilfenhaus's entertaining innings of 34 is ended when he top-edges to Prior behind the stumps, and Australia are all out for 280
Some inaccurate Aussie bowling and some controlled aggressive strokes from England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook helps England get off to a flier
As England cruise to 73 without loss by the tea interval, Baywatch and Knight Rider actor David Hasselhoff attracts plenty of attention at the SCG
Skipper Strauss reaches his half century from 49 balls just after tea, but has reached 60 when he is yorked by an excellent swinging delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus, after a first-wicket stand of 98 with Cook
Jonathan Trott then follows Strauss, without scoring, as he chops the ball onto his stumps while attempting a cover drive. England are 99-2 and suddenly batting does not appear quite so easy at the SCG
Debutant spinner Michael Beer looks to have earned his first Test wicket when Cook, on 46, lofts a catch to mid-on - but as the batsman starts to walk off, umpire Billy Bowden realises he may have missed a no-ball...
...and TV replays indicate that no part of Beer's right foot was behind the popping crease, so Beer is denied his maiden Test wicket, and Cook soon reaches his 25th Test fifty
Having watchfully worked his way to 36, Kevin Pietersen is tempted into a hook shot against Mitchell Johnson and is caught by debutant Beer at long leg, with five overs left in the day's play
But Cook reaches a number of milestones, passing 5,000 Test runs and overtaking Michael Vaughan's 2002-03 series aggregate of 633, to reach 61 not out at the close as England finish on 167-3, 113 behind Australia
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