Another dominant day from England and the now usual litany of Australian errors loosened the tourists' grip on the Ashes on day one of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

Australia's day started badly with the withdrawal through injury of fast bowler Glenn McGrath and never improved because of a spate of no-balls and two dropped catches.

England ended day one on 4-229, with Kevin Pietersen on 33 not out and Andrew Flintoff on eight not out.

Vice-captain Marcus Trescothick top-scored with 65, having been bowled by a Brett Lee no-ball before lunch, while his captain Michael Vaughan scored 58.

Australia's only joy came through an early wicket to Shane Warne, two wickets to debutant quick Shaun Tait and a rare scalp for Ricky Ponting, who bowled six overs in the final session while Warne fielded at slip.

The legspinner's limited bowling time (1-23 from six overs) initially raised concerns he was being troubled by tightness in the lower back - which he experienced in the lead-up - although he did bowl the final over of the day, before the umpires ruled the light too poor to continue.

An hour of play was lost to rain earlier in the day.

Tait (2-62) claimed two wickets in an impressive spell after tea when he swung a beauty through Trescothick and then had Ian Bell (three) caught behind, which was Adam Gilchrist's 300th dismissal as a wicketkeeper.

Gilchrist took another off a Vaughan edge to give Ponting (1-9) his first Test wicket in six-and-a-half years.

Vaughan and Trescothick were out just as they looked poised to go on to big things, but the day was largely a forgettable one for the tourists.

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