Michael Clarke threw away the chance of a century on his first appearance at Lord's but left Australia in total command of the first Ashes Test with a majestic batting display on Friday.
The 24-year-old, who scored centuries on his home and away Test debuts, made 91 and put on 155 with Damien Martyn for the fourth wicket as the world champions closed the second day on 279 for seven, 314 ahead of England.
The partnership in a low-scoring match -- Australia made 190 in their first innings to England's 155 -- transformed the contest from close-run to one-sided in just over a session.
Steve Harmison was England's best bowler with two for 35 off 18.2 overs, including the wicket of Shane Warne off the last ball of the day. Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff also took two wickets each.
Kevin Pietersen, who had made 57 for England in his first Test innings during the morning, dropped Clarke off a routine chance when he had made just 21.
Justin Langer had been run out for six by a direct hit from Pietersen before lunch after England were dismissed for 155 in their first innings.
Matthew Hayden made 34 before dragging a pull off Andrew Flintoff into his stumps to make it 54 for two shortly after lunch and Ricky Ponting accumulated 42 before playing a ball from Matthew Hoggard away from his body and straight to point.
The home side, however, were left cursing when Kevin Pietersen, a leading light in the morning, dropped Michael Clarke at cover off Simon Jones in the final over before tea. It was Pietersen's third spill of the game.
After the incessant clatter of wickets on a frenetic first day and Pietersen's haymaking on the second morning when he smacked 57, the afternoon provided more traditional Test cricket.
Drama was replaced by tension as England's seamers attacked and the Australian batsmen hung on.
Jones bowled at pace, shaping the ball away. Flintoff, cutting the ball back down the hill, produced his quickest spell of the match and Steve Harmison continued to threaten jaw, throat and chestbone.
England had resumed on 92 for seven in the morning and Pietersen, selected ahead of Graham Thorpe for his brash attitude and play, dominated as he hit eight fours and two sixes. No other batsman has reached fifty in the match.
McGrath, who looked unplayable in taking the first five England wickets to fall on Thursday, was hammered for 32 runs in five overs to finish with figures of five for 53. After a restrained start on the first day, Pietersen lost Hoggard for a duck as the tail-ender edged Shane Warne to slip.
Pietersen responded with a flat-bat four back past McGrath, hoisted his next ball into the middle tier of the pavilion and the next went through extra cover as he reached his 50.
There was another six off Warne but Pietersen's attempted action replay next ball ended with Damien Martyn diving full length on the mid-wicket boundary to take the catch.
Jones and Harmison continued the festival mood, putting on 33 from 29 balls for the final wicket.
