Australia dismissed England for 407 late on the first day of the second Ashes cricket Test at Edgbaston, but only after its bowlers were plundered by the home side's big hitters.

Marcus Trescothick (90), Andrew Flintoff (68) and Kevin Pietersen (71) all ruthlessly attacked Australia without Glenn McGrath's menace and, even though none of the trio was able to post a century, this current Australian side has never before experienced such an expensive day.

It was only the seventh time Australia had conceded 400 or more runs in a day of Test cricket.

Faced with Flintoff and Pietersen in full flight at tea, the Australians escaped to an extent by taking 6-118 in the final session.

The tourists were due to face eight overs but rain started to fall during the change over and the umpires called an early close.

England, which lost the toss, would be delighted with such a big first innings score, having scored at 5.13 runs an over throughout the day.

It was only the third time since World War II an England side had scored 400 in a day in a Test.

All four Australian bowlers shared the wickets but were savaged along the way and between them conceded 10 sixes and 55 fours in a remarkable first day's batting from the home side.

They attacked all day - from openers Trescothick and Andrew Strauss to last men in Steve Harmison and Simon Jones.

England scored 280 runs in boundaries.

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