Clarke (148) was especially expert against England's two spinners, attacking Monty Panesar from the outset and taking a liking to Graeme Swann too in his record stand of 200 with Brad Haddin (118).

England dropped each of the sixth-wicket pair early in their innings and were powerless to resist thereafter as more than half of Australia’s mighty 570-9 declared was piled up by batsmen granted an early reprieve by missed chances. They were limited to 35 for one at the close, with captain Alastair Cook the man out to Mitchell Johnson for three.