Hoggard takes Warne wicket

Matthew Hoggard claimed an overdue reward for his toiling efforts as England struggled to break Australia's resistance and claim control of the second Ashes Test.

England claimed only two wickets all day with Hoggard striking just before tea on the fourth day to claim his maiden five-wicket Ashes haul and leave Australia on 502 for seven, still trailing by 49 runs.

Hoggard made the breakthrough in his 37th over of the innings to win an lbw appeal against Shane Warne, who had hit a determined 43 and played his part in a 118-run stand with Michael Clarke and helped him claim a timely century.

Australia had resumed 239 runs adrift on 312 for five and Clarke's three hours of defiance was crucial to prevent England claiming a major first innings lead. He hit 10 boundaries during his unbeaten 121.

Clarke began the day alongside Adam Gilchrist at the crease and was content to allow his partner play the aggressive role after they had both made a cautious start to the day.

Denied by imaginative field-placings from England captain Andrew Flintoff, Australia began the day slowly and were denied their first boundary until the 10th over of the morning when Gilchrist seized on a short ball from the tiring Matthew Hoggard.

That was the signal for Gilchrist, who had resumed overnight on 13, to launch a familiar onslaught on England's attack while Clarke remained watchful at the other end.

Alastair Cook felt the full force of Gilchrist's strokeplay when he was hit just by the right ear on his helmet while fielding at short leg when the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman pulled a short delivery from Ashley Giles.

Cook continued after a short drinks break, but Gilchrist maintained his onslaught by hitting Steve Harmison for successive boundaries and bringing up his half-century off 79 balls while Australia added 54 in only 10 overs.

But with tea approaching, Warne was given lbw after shuffling across his stumps to Hoggard and prompted further words between him and England's fielders as they left the field for the interval.