Perth, Australia: England, desperate to come back in to the Ashes series after losing first two tests, took three wickets to leave Australia 107-3 at lunch on first day of the third test here Friday.
England took two early wickets, with Jimmy Anderson running out Chris Rogers (11) with a direct hit from mid-on with the total at 13 and Shane Watson (18) edging an away swinger from Stuart Broad to second slip with the total at 52.
But David Warner was in full flow plundering seven fours and a six in the morning session for his 49. His 54-run third-wicket stand with Clarke ended six minutes from lunch when Australia's captain danced down the wicket to Swann's second ball and turned a shot to Cook at short midwicket.
The Australians, who can regain the Ashes with a third straight win, won the toss and batted for the third straight test and their intentions were made clear with 17 boundaries and a six before lunch on a hot, clear day at the WACA ground, where England's sole victory was back in 1978.
This also Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke 100th test and Cook took first blood in the battle of the 100-test captains, catching Michael Clarke off Graeme Swann's bowling just before lunch to help contain Australia to 107-3 in the first session of the third Ashes test.
The pacemen were struggling to find the right length on a bouncy pitch but had moments of dominance. Broad bowled cleverly to tempt Watson into a drive and get an edge to Swann, who took a superb catch well above his head.
Warner and Clarke (24) were scoring quickly and appeared well set, until spinner Swann was introduced into the attack to change up the session.
Warner was playing mostly with composure and scoring off the back foot but gave a half-chance for a return catch on 37 when he flat batted a short ball at Tim Bresnan, who couldn't hold a sharp chance.
Later in the same over, Warner cover drove a boundary and hit Bresnan back over the rope at long-on to lift Australia into triple figures.
Warner, who scored a century in the 381-run first test win and narrowly missed another when Australia declared in its second innings in the 218-run win at Adelaide, is crucial to Australia's chances of securing the Ashes in Perth. Doubts over the form of Steve Smith, who faced seven balls without scoring before lunch, and George Bailey in the middle order mean Warner will likely need to convert his good start into a big total if Australia is to reach a strong total required on a pitch that helps batsmen who can adapt to the bounce.
Cook and Clarke each received a special cap before play to commemorate their 100th test matches.
