Butcher grits it out

Butcher was particularly strong on the off-side

Mark Butcher, who managed to hit his second-best Test score as England made a decent start in the final Ashes Test in Sydney, said he spent most of his long innings "hanging on for dear life".

England ended the first day on 264-5 after being 198-2 at one stage.

The Surrey man, who had only hit five centuries in Test matches prior to this, said: "It was a shame I didn't manage to see out the last four or five overs but it was a good day for me.

"It's been pretty tough for all of us and my form has not been as good as it might have been particularly after the first Test when I thought I got out of the blocks pretty well.

"It was fantastic to score runs in front of such a big crowd but it wasn't until after tea-time that I felt in any kind of form."

Day one, stumps. England 264-5
Full scorecard

Butcher managed just 25 runs in the middle session of the day, happy to watch skipper Nasser Hussain pull Aussie seamers Brett Lee and Andy Bichel for a series of boundaries.

Lee finally bowled Butcher late in the day

But before lunch and after tea he was more expansive, favouring the off-side whether cutting the wayward Stuart MacGill or driving the seamers through the gaps.

Hussain and Butcher added 166 for the third wicket, an English record in Sydney Tests.

Butcher said: "Nasser and I had a chat saying we were due a bit of stand so it was nice to see that going again."

Australia coach John Buchanan bemoaned Australia's poor catching. Butcher was dropped twice, on 13 and 43, while Hussain was put down when just six.

"It was a pretty good wicket out there and those missed chances were pretty crucial," he said.

More pictures from the SCG

"It was pretty disappointing as both batsmen capitalised on those misses, but good luck to them."

He said that Jason Gillespie, who looked weary and sore by the end of the day, would be fighting fit on the second morning.

"He and Brett [Lee] will be in reasonable shape for tomorrow," he said.

Buchanan also admitted that the absence of Australia's best two bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, had had an effect.

"It would be pretty hard to say we didn't miss them," he said.

Andy Bichel fractured his left index finger while fielding on the opening day but will be able to continue.

He will play with his left hand in a splint.

Fortunately, the seamer is a right-arm bowler.