Adelaide: A leaping catch by Graeme Swann in the final minutes of play kept England in contention against Australia on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Thursday.
The Australians, one-up in the series, looked in control at 257 for four nearing stumps, before Swann held a flying catch two-handed at square leg to dismiss the dangerous George Bailey for 53.
Bailey had looked set for a substantial score batting with skipper Michael Clarke before he hooked paceman Stuart Broad to Swann, whose brilliant piece of outfielding swung the pendulum towards England on a first day of thrust and parry.
At the close, Australia, after winning the toss, were 273/5 with Clarke, who boasts a ground average of more than 100, on 48 and Brad Haddin on seven.
It could have been even better for England; Michael Carberry at backward point dropped a sitter off Haddin shortly before the close.
Bailey was in aggressive mood, smashing three sixes, two of them off spinner Monty Panesar and a pull off paceman Broad.
Panesar put down Bailey, missing a sharp caught and bowled chance when the batsman was on 10 and Clarke survived when a flying Joe Root put him down at midwicket off Swann.
England had grabbed three crucial wickets to peg Australia back in the half-hour before tea after the home side made a strong start.
Chris Rogers and Shane Watson put on a century stand for the second wicket before both departed in the space of six balls.
England made two changes to their side.
Ben Stokes got his first Test cap, while Panesar was included in a twin-spin attack with Swann. (AFP)
SCORECARD
Australia 1st inn:
C Rogers c Prior b Swann 72
D Warner c Carberry b Broad 29
S Watson c & b Anderson 51
M Clarke not out 48
S Smith b Panesar 6
G Bailey c Swann b Broad 53
B Haddin not out 7
Extras: (b-5, nb-2) 7
Total: (5 wkts; 91 overs) 273
FOW: 1-34, 2-155, 3-155, 4-174, 5-257
Bowling: Anderson 21-9-56-1, Broad 19-3-63-2, Swann 19-2-55-1, Panesar 24-4-68-1, Stokes 8-2-26-0
