Day three in Cardiff begins with Australia on 249-1 in reply to England's 435 - renowned cricket artist Jocelyn Galsworthy paints the new Test venue as fans await the start of play
The Aussies will be hoping that opener Simon Katich and captain Ricky Ponting can extend their 189-run partnership, having both reached their centuries towards the end of day two
Ponting picks up where he left off on Thursday; after surviving an early maiden over from Monty Panesar, he soon hits out against the left-arm spinner
England take the second new ball as soon as it is available, although Andrew Flintoff soon sends down a wild delivery which keeper Matt Prior takes in front of second slip
James Anderson finally makes the breakthrough for the home side when he traps left-hander Katich lbw for 122, ending a second-wicket stand of 239; Australia are 299-1
As England's fielders congratulate Anderson and await the arrival of the new batsman, Australia spring a minor surprise by elevating out-of-form Mike Hussey ahead of vice-captain Michael Clarke
At the other end, Aussie skipper Ponting remains in imperious form, hooking Flintoff for six on his way towards 150 and eyeing up a big score to put his team in command
Ponting's six sails over long leg, where not even the despairing leap of Panesar, fielding on the boundary, can prevent it going into the crowd
But Anderson grabs his second wicket when Hussey, still scratching around for form, is caught behind by Matt Prior for three; Australia are 325-3
England finally grab the prize wicket when spinner Monty Panesar returns for his second spell of the day, and Ponting drags the ball onto his stumps for 150 to leave Australia 331-4
Panesar celebrates in his inimitable style, but the third wicket of the morning has helped England get back into the game; Clarke and Ashes rookie Marcus North are now at the crease
With his skipper gone, vice-captain Clarke sees Australia through to lunch with the score 348-4. England lead by 87 - a number traditionally considered unlucky by Australians
Playing in his first Ashes Test, Marcus North rides his luck a couple of times early on, but is soon into the game with a couple of full-blooded on-drives
Meanwhile, Clarke scatters the close fielders with some fluent hitting and reaches his 14th Test fifty as Australia make England toil again early in the afternoon session
With Ashes tickets hard to come by, two fans watch the game from the trees surrounding the ground as Australia continue to pile on the runs, overtaking England's first-innings score
Left-hander North looks increasingly accomplished at the crease, passing 50 for the second time in only his fifth Test innings, in the over before tea; Australia are 458-4 at the interval
Having bowled three overs of medium pace before tea, England turn to Paul Collingwood again for the first over after the interval as they try to make the breakthrough
But just three overs after tea, Australia's accumulation of runs is halted at 463-4 when rain stops play at about 1610 BST and the players walk off
The rain looks like abating at one point, and a restart time of 1705 BST is announced - but then cancelled when the rain returns. Australian and English fans alike are forced to wait
Some of the spectators take the opportunity for a snooze as just over two hours are lost to rain, but play resumes just before 1815 BST
When play resumes, the floodlights are on - the first time that floodlights have been used in a Test played in Britain, although they have been used in Bangalore and Auckland
England make a breakthrough under the lights when Clarke gloves a catch behind to Matt Prior for 83, giving Stuart Broad his first Ashes wicket and leaving Australia 474-5
But the umpires call a halt to play two overs after Clarke's departure, with Australia 479-5 - 44 runs ahead of the hosts going into day four
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