Trescothick rides his Ashes luck

And the home side were certainly grateful as they watched Trescothick and Mike Atherton take them to 50 without loss by tea.

Australia's total was at least 100 runs lighter than had seemed likely earlier today. And that was down to a clatter of five wickets for 51 runs in the space of 58 deliveries.

There were few early signs of success for the bowlers this morning. But back came Gough with the second new ball and, mercifully for England, he posed a couple of questions which were not properly answered. Debutant Simon Katich decided against offering a shot to a ball that straightened on him and knocked back off stump. Enter Gilchrist with scores of 152, 90 and 54 behind him already this series.

A pulled four, against Andy Caddick, not only opened the acting captain's account but took his Test average against England to 100. Three more boundaries soon followed but then, to the surprise of almost everyone, he offered a catch that not only carried but was also accepted.

Checking a drive against Gough, Gilchrist picked out Trescothick in the covers.

Gough raised his arms, as much in relief as joy. But saving, never mind winning this Test, and preventing the visitors from moving 4-0 ahead still looked heavily odds against England.

All four of their pacemen had produced brutish deliveries from time to time on a pitch that is so dry that the ball has made numerous indentations.

Even so, the speed of Australia's demise post-lunch came as something of a shock. Shane Warne, attempting to pull Gough, top-edged a catch which Alec Stewart comfortably accepted after scampering a few yards.

Martyn had, by then, completed his second high-class hundred of the series. But he quickly lost Brett Lee, cutting Alan Mullally to gulley, and Jason Gillespie, gliding a straightforward chance to first slip, before perishing himself, for 118, in curious circumstances.

Carving Gough into the slip cordon, Martyn must have thought he had escaped when Atherton could only parry the ball. But, instead of falling safely to ground, it lobbed up conveniently into Stewart's waiting gloves.