Matthew Hayden, given a reprieve on 14, was 33 not out and Australia captain Ricky Ponting unbeaten on seven.

Langer (31), going down the pitch to Ashley Giles, was sharply caught one-handed at short-leg by the Warwickshire left-arm spinner's county colleague Ian Bell, off bat and pad, as he looked to drive the ball onside.

His dismissal left Australia 58 for one after their best opening stand of the series.

Australia, who themselves dropped several catches on Thursday, saw Hayden missed when Matthew Hoggard failed to hold a low, one-handed, caught and bowled chance off the batsman's checked drive with the tourists 30 without loss.

After England made 341 for five on the first day with captain Michael Vaughan scoring 166, the first hundred of the series, they would have hoped to set Australia a total in excess of 500.

But instead leg-spinner Shane Warne, who on Thursday became the first bowler to take 600 Test wickets, sparked a tailend collapse that saw England lose their last four wickets for 11 runs in 25 balls either side of lunch.

Warne, who led the attack with four for 99, first removed the dangerous Andrew Flintoff for 46 before the interval to end a stand of 87 in 105 balls with Geraint Jones.

And when keeper Jones was bowled by Jason Gillespie for 42, off the last ball of the session, England were 434 for eight.

After the break Warne dismissed both Ashley Giles (caught by Hayden at first slip) and Simon Jones (bowled) for nought.

Fast bowler Brett Lee was the pick of Australia's quicks with four for 100 off 27 overs.

England resumed with Bell 59 not out, his Test-best against Australia, and Flintoff yet to face after nightwatchman Hoggard was bowled by Brett Lee off Thursday's last ball.

As Flintoff walked onto the field he was given a huge ovation by his Lancashire home crowd after his man-of-the-match winning display during England's two-run 1-1 series-levelling victory at Edgbaston, where he made key scores of 68 and 73 as well as taking seven wickets.

Bell though failed to add to his overnight score, caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off Lee.

Experienced West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor took his time over the decision and, although replays suggested Bell might have missed the ball, England were now 346 for six.

Meanwhile Flintoff, got off the mark with a four to third man off Lee, cut fellow quick Glenn McGrath -- wicketless after missing the second Test with an ankle injury -- for another boundary.

Australia-raised Jones, much criticised for his keeping but in the side mainly for his batting came to the crease after managing just 46 runs in four previous innings this series.

But together with Flintoff he ensured a regular supply of boundaries with Gillespie, whose one for 114 made him the most expensive member of Australia's attack, bearing the brunt of the assault.

But Flintoff, four short of his fifty, holed out to Langer at mid-on off Warne having faced 67 balls with seven fours.

Next over, Jones missed Gillespie's slower ball and was bowled to end a 51-ball stay with six boundaries.

Worryingly for Australia, batsman Michael Clarke remained off the field for Friday with the back injury that saw him miss most of the first day's play.