last updated: Friday 17 July 2009, 08:06am

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Strauss leads from the front

Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting

England captain Andrew Strauss scored 161 not out on the first day of the second Ashes test.

At the close of play Strauss had reached 161 not out, his 18th test century and third against Australia, and also passed 5,000 runs in test cricket.

But England failed to take advantage of an opening stand of 196 between Strauss and Alastair Cook, and their score of 364 for six was no more than adequate on a Lord's pitch that favoured the batting side.

Strauss and Cook sped to 126 without loss at lunch against some wayward bowling, particularly from the Australian spearhead Mitchell Johnson who conceded 53 runs in just eight overs

Australia regrouped, despite the loss of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz with a dislocated finger in his bowling hand, while the England middle-order gave their wickets away.

Cook was first to go - lbw to a rare straight ball from Johnson which ended the Australian wicket drought.

Ravi Bopara scored 18 from 19 balls but he too eventually went lbw.

Kevin Pietersen played a bizarre cameo for 32 which seemed entirely at odds with his side's requirements.

He scampered his customary risky singles at the start of his innings, stole the strike from Strauss who was moving serenely to his hundred, and came dangerously close to handling a ball that looked like it was running on to his stumps.

He appeared to settle down after tea, driving two majestic fours before Peter Siddle ran a delivery away from the bat and Pietersen nibbled a catch to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Paul Collingwood (16) chipped a simple catch to deep mid-on off Michael Clarke and Matt Prior (8) was bowled by a Johnson delivery through the gap between bat and pad.

Andrew Flintoff entered to loud applause for his last test at Lord's but departed after only 16 minutes for four.

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