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Manchester: Michael Clarke registered his 24th Test ton and along with Steven Smith had put together an unbeaten 174 run stand to take Australia to 303/3 at stump on Day 1.
Opener Chris Rogers fell short of his first Test century and Australia's first of the Ashes on Thursday after the tourists had earlier been the victim of another umpiring controversy on day one of the third Test.
The Australians, 2-0 down in the five-match series, went to tea on 303 for three with captain Michael Clarke on 125 not out after Rogers was trapped lbw by a fullish ball from England spinner Graeme Swann for 84.
Replays showed Rogers was right to be given out, but Usman Khawaja's dismissal before lunch was a major talking point.
He was adjudged to have been caught behind off Swann for one but reviewed umpire Tony Hill's decision.
Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena sided with his colleague despite replays showing no obvious edge in the Test decision review system (DRS) dispute to afflict the series and Australia.
Shane Watson earlier got away with several loose shots through the slips, over gully and just short of point but was caught at slip by Alastair Cook off paceman Tim Bresnan for 19.
Rogers, obeying the message from on high to knuckle down and build an innings after repeated Australian carelessness this series, calmly compiled his highest Test score to silence doubters of his worth to the side.
The 35-year-old, selected because of his knowledge of English conditions having been a mainstay of the county scene, is playing in only his fourth Test for Australia and will be annoyed he did not go on and make a century his team badly need.
Steve Smith was with him at stump on 70 hit his fifth Test fifty after another minor DRS controversy when England reviewed a not-out lbw decision against Swann and Hawk-Eye said just less than half the ball would have hit leg stump, thus reverting to the umpire's call.
The hosts wasted their second and final review on Smith later when DRS showed he had not edged James Anderson behind.
Brief scores
Australia 303 for 3 (Clarke 125*, Rogers 84, Smith 70*)
