Ricky Ponting at second slip dropped Bopara on 11 from the bowling of Siddle with the score on 88. In the final over before tea Bopara was given not out when Hauritz dived forward at mid-on to claim a catch off Johnson. The appeal was rejected after the television umpire had consulted several replays.

Strauss batted with appropriate urgency after his first innings of 161 but the game started to drift in the afternoon session.

The ease with which Siddle, who reached his highest test score of 35, and Hauritz (24) batted against the England pace bowlers might have helped persuade Strauss to bat for a second time. He would also be aware that Sri Lanka and South Africa have saved test matches in recent years at Lord's after being made to follow on.

Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle found some swing and successfully contained the England batsmen. Mitchell Johnson, though, was again wayward, switching from over to around the wicket without finding his direction.