Enlarge imageBy Tony Lawrence
LONDON (Reuters) - Shane Warne ripped out England’s top order to leave Australia well-placed despite a fine 129 from Andrew Strauss on an absorbing first day of the fifth and final test on Thursday.
The leg spinner induced a string of errors from the home batsmen to leave England on 319 for seven.
Warne took five for 118 from 34 overs, giving him 33 wickets for the series.
Australia, 2-1 behind, can retain the Ashes with victory at The Oval. The world champions have won the last eight series between the sides, a record run dating back to 1989.
Strauss posted his seventh test century and his second of the series, putting on 82 with Marcus Trescothick for the first wicket and 143 with all rounder Andrew Flintoff for the fifth.
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"It was a pretty good day, I think we are just probably slightly ahead," Warne said. "The wicket is obviously very flat. It’s going to start spinning.
"Strauss played very well. He hung in there and toughed it out."
England, having beefed up their batting, opted to take first guard on a perfect strip and looked in command before Warne produced a 38-ball burst either side of lunch to take four wickets for 16.
The home side, hoping to bat Australia out of the game and the series, slumped to 131 for four.
Strauss and Flintoff then rebuilt, reaching 274 for four before the wickets began to fall again. Flintoff made 72 and Warne completed his day’s destruction by ending Strauss’s six-hour stay at the sun-drenched ground.
Geraint Jones was on 21 not out with Ashley Giles on five at the close of play.
The Oval is traditionally full of runs. South Africa scored 484 against England in 2003 first up and still lost by nine wickets.
Warne, though, has had a psychological hold over English batsmen since the 1993 Ashes, when he took 34 wickets in six tests.
He has subsidised the Australian attack throughout the series and was asked to do so again on Thursday, responding with a marathon 18-over spell spanning lunch, then another 16 overs on the reel.
It was his 31st five-wicket haul in tests and took his career tally to 616.
England, having opted for an extra batsman in Paul Collingwood to replace injured fast bowler Simon Jones -- interpreted as a negative tactic by many commentators -- did not help themselves after a solid start.
INCREASINGLY COMFORTABLE
Fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait were all seen off with Trescothick looking comfortable in compiling 43 including eight fours.
He dabbed without conviction at Warne, however, and Matthew Hayden took a fine ankle-high catch at slip and the procession began.
England captain Michael Vaughan was particularly culpable with a lazy clip to mid-wicket and Ian Bell departed for a duck, lbw as he pushed forward through a thicket of close fielders.
At 115 for three at lunch, England were kicking themselves. At 131 for four, they probably felt like kicking Kevin Pietersen, who played across a gentle Warne leg spinner and was bowled for 14.
English cheers were reserved for Strauss and Flintoff.
Flintoff led the way with three consecutive fours off Warne, the first two slapped to backward square leg and the next hammered past the bowler to get to his half-century.
Strauss, having reached 97 with a square cut, then fizzed a Lee half-volley through mid-wicket to begin his celebrations.
The 28-year-old has an extraordinary return of seven centuries in 19 tests but had yet to top 150, perhaps suggesting that he could set his heights yet higher.
His stand with Flintoff ended when the big all rounder, having lifted Warne over long on for six, played a tired shot off the back foot at McGrath and edged to Warne at slip.
Flintoff hit 12 fours and a six during his 114-ball stay.
Collingwood managed seven, perhaps unfortunate to fall lbw to a Tait yorker, before Strauss prodded forward at Warne and was superbly caught by a diving Simon Katich at silly mid-off. The opener hit 17 fours.
He was still upbeat afterwards.
"If we can get 370-plus I think we are very much in the game," said Strauss. "I think there will be a result. If we keep working as we have done all season I think we can win it."
Earlier in the series, Warne had called Strauss his new rabbit. On Thursday, that description seemed better suited to Vaughan, Bell or Pietersen.
