A leaping catch by Graeme Swann in the final minutes of play kept England in contention against Australia on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Thursday.

The Australians, one up in the series, looked in control at 257 for four nearing stumps, before Swann held a flying two-handed catch at square leg to dismiss the dangerous George Bailey for 53.

Bailey had looked set for a substantial score batting with skipper Michael Clarke before he hooked paceman Stuart Broad to Swann, whose brilliant piece of fielding swung the pendulum towards England on a first day of thrust and parry.

At the close of play at the new-look ground, Australia, after winning the toss, was 273 for five with Clarke, who boasts an average of more than 100 at the Adelaide Oval, on 48 and Brad Haddin on seven.

It could have been even better for England. Michael Carberry at backward point dropped a sitter off Australian wicketkeeper Haddin shortly before the close.

Bailey was in an aggressive mood, smashing three sixes - two of them off spinner Monty Panesar and also a pull off paceman Broad.

Panesar put down Bailey, missing a sharp caught and bowled chance when the batsman was on 10 and Clarke survived when a flying Joe Root put him down at midwicket off Swann.

(China Daily 12/06/2013 page23)