After missing a number of chances in the field as Queensland extended their first innings to an imposing 582, with Martin Love reaching 250, England would have taken a good deal of satisfaction from the fact that they responded with an opening partnership of exactly 100, scored at nearly six an over. Even more cause for optimism was Michael Vaughan's return to serious action to end the day on 49 not out.

Vaughan has taken time to recover from what was meant to be a routine knee operation following the final Test of the summer against India at The Oval, but he appeared to have lost none of his fluent form. He has so far hit a six and eight fours as England reached 106 for one at the close of the second day.

Many of England's hopes in the forthcoming Test series rest on a sound opening partnership between Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, and the pair showed here why they carry such aspirations. Trescothick's innings was by no means chanceless, but he rode his luck and showed no inclination to rein in an aggressive attitude towards his batting.

He was eventually run out – beaten by Mike Kasprowicz's throw – when on 46 and it was left to nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard to play out time with Vaughan and so allow the other recognised batsmen time in the middle on the third day.

Love was missed no fewer than four times in the first session of the day and with another chance spurned, it was not a happy morning for England's fielders. Andrew Caddick continued to find his rhythm, and the edge of the bat, but was let down by his fielders. Simon Jones and Hoggard also had Love dropped off chances with varying degrees of difficulty, and it was not until late in the day when his nine hour innings came to an end. He was eighth out, lbw to Hoggard.

Ashley Giles accounted for the two wickets that fell in the morning session while chances were going down at the other end. In the 22nd over of the day, Lee Carseldine clipped the left-arm spinner to short mid-wicket after being beaten in the flight, and, next over, Wayne Seccombe played across the line and fell lbw.

It was Giles who claimed the only wicket of the afternoon session. Love and Ashley Noffke had added 83 for the seventh wicket before Noffke went down the wicket to Giles and drove a catch straight to Caddick at mid-on. After Love had gone as well, it was left to Jones to pick up the wickets of Nathan Hauritz when he edged to Trescothick at slip, and for Nasser Hussain to run out his former Essex team-mate Kasprowicz to bring the innings to an end after more than ten and a half hours of batting.

© CricInfo