England wickets continue to tumble

England failed to cash in on winning an important toss as they mustered only 307 for eight on day one of the Ashes decider at the Oval.

Captain Andrew Strauss (55) and Ian Bell (72) - shunted back up to number three after England's dismal performance in the fourth npower Test at Headingley - shared a second-wicket stand of 102.

But it was telling that neither could go on to three figures to set England up for a dominant total.

Strauss hit 10 fours in a notably fluent contribution, before falling in early afternoon - and when Bell went to the first ball he faced in the evening session, England were beginning to look under par.

Neither Andrew Flintoff (seven), in his final Test, nor Jonathan Trott (41), in his first, could save a day on which Peter Siddle (four for 63) was the most successful member of a hard-working Australia attack.

Paul Collingwood again disappointed as he laboured to 24 and Matt Prior could only contribute 18.

Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann provided some entertainment late on but Swann's dismissal for 18 with three balls remaining in the day left Broad (26 not out) with the prospect of trying to steer England towards a more competitive total on Friday morning.

England's prospects of the victory were therefore not in obvious good health as many batsmen had contributed to their own dismissals.

The jury was out, however, over whether this Oval pitch is as good for batting as was expected - with variations in pace and occasionally in bounce already helping to keep bowlers in the contest.