Rogers, Smith power Aussies to solid start

Chris Rogers was in sight of a coveted hundred at Lord's as Australia consolidated their strong position against England on Thursday's first day of the second Ashes Test.

At tea, Australia were 191 for one, with Rogers on 81 (n.o.) and Steven Smith -- dropped on 50 -- on 62 (n.o.). The pair had so far added an unbroken 113 for the second wicket.

Left-hander Rogers -- who plans to retire after this series -- knows 'the home of cricket' well from his time with Lord's-based county side Middlesex.

This was the 37-year-old's seventh fifty in eight Test innings although none of those knocks had yet led to a century.

Australia got through the second session without losing a wicket and although a run-rate of under four an over was relatively slow by modern standards, they would have had few complaints about their position.

The only setback so far for the Ashes holders, looking to level the five-match series at 1-1 after England's 169-run win in the first Test in Cardiff last week, was the loss of David Warner for a well-made 38 before lunch.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked another typically good Lord's pitch. Initially overcast skies offered a hint of swing movement but long before tea the sun had broken through as conditions for batting eased.

The first over saw Rogers fortunate to survive when he edged an intended drive off James Anderson just over the top of the slips for four.

Warner is known as the more aggressive of Australia's two left-handed openers.

But it took him 25 balls to score his first four on Thursday, pulling first-change Mark Wood.Rogers did not look secure and repeatedly played and missed. By contrast, Warner started to find his touch with five fours, all off fast bowler Wood, in 13 balls.

England captain Alastair Cook brought on Moeen Ali after drinks.

But with Australia determined not to let the off-spinner settle, Warner slog-swept Ali's first ball for four.Ali, however, had his revenge five balls later as he dismissed Warner for the second time in as many innings.

Warner, going down the pitch, saw a lofted drive well-caught by Anderson on the run in the covers.After lunch, Rogers completed a 95-ball fifty when he cut Stuart Broad for four before late-cutting Ali for another well-struck boundary.

Smith, until twice making 33 in Cardiff ranked as the world's number one Test batsman, returned to form with a 111-ball fifty.

But he should have been out for 50 when he edged all-rounder Ben Stokes only for Ian Bell to floor the low chance at second slip.

England fielded the same side that won in Cardiff after all-rounder Ali overcame a slight side strain.However, Australia -- looking for their first Ashes series win in Britain in 14 years -- made two changes.Wicket-keeper Peter Nevill made his international debut after first-choice gloveman Brad Haddin withdrew for "family reasons", while Mitchell Marsh replaced dropped fellow all-rounder Shane Watson. AFP