England go slow
England's bid for a first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years stalled after lunch here on the third day.
England, having decided against enforcing the follow-on, were 130 for two at tea on Saturday -- a lead of 340 runs.
Ravi Bopara was 19 not out and Kevin Pietersen 28 not out.
But neither batsman looked at their best during a stand so far worth 56 as England, having escaped with a draw in last week's opener in Cardiff, went in search of a win that would put them 1-0 up in the five-Test series.
And Bopara was lucky still to be at the crease at all.
The No. 3 had made just nine when he edged Peter Siddle only for Australia captain Ricky Ponting, at second slip, to stun his side by dropping the seemingly routine chance.
Then just before tea struggling left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson thought he had Bopara, on 19, caught pulling at mid-on by Nathan Hauritz, fielding following a first innings finger dislocation.
Bopara stood his ground, the decision was referred to the third umpire and, with replays inconclusive, he was allowed to continue his innings.
At lunch, England were 57 without loss after captain Andrew Strauss had opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Strauss, who made 161 in the first innings, was 24 not out and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook, out for 95 first time around, unbeaten on 32 after putting on 196 with his captain on Thursday.
But off-spinner Hauritz, whose selection for this was much derided in Australia, brought his side back into the match with two wickets for no runs in eight balls.
Hauritz struck with his first ball after lunch when Cook was lbw.
And he then removed Strauss for 32 with a well flighted, turning delivery that took the edge on its way to Michael Clarke at first slip.
England were now 74 for two, with Strauss seemingly surrendering England's early advantage by not making Australia bat again.
And they could easily have lost two wickets soon after Strauss's exit.
Pietersen, on 10, was in the process of surving an lbw appeal from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus when he scampered down the pitch.
The ball ballooned to Ponting in the slips and his quick-thinking shy at the stumps just missed with Pietersen, unaware of where the ball had gone, well out of his ground.
Johnson, billed as the spearhead of Australia's attack after a successful series in South Africa this year, had struggled for line and length during England's first innings.
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