Nottingham, August 25:

Pace bowler Shaun Tait took two wickets in eight balls on debut to revive Australia’s depleted attack after England dominated the start of the fourth Ashes Test. Tait, 22, bowled Marcus Trescothick (65) and had Ian Bell (3) caught behind as England slipped from 137/1 to 146/3.

But England rallied to reach stumps at 229-4 on a rain-interrupted day. Kevin Pietersen had two reprieves but remained not out 33, batting with Andrew Flintoff (8). With Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie out and Shane Warne restricted to one over after the morning session, captain Ricky Ponting took it upon himself to be a partnership breaker. It worked. He had Michael Vaughan (58) caught behind to end a 67-run, fourth-wicket stand. It was his first Ashes wicket.

Michael Kasprowicz (0-56), a late inclusion for McGrath, had two catches go down off his bowling, including a return chance when Pietersen was on 14. The evening session was a vast improvement for Aussie bowlers on the first, when Warne had the only success — Andrew Strauss (35) bottom-edging onto his boot and ricocheting a catch at slip. England had raced to 129-1 at lunch, with Trescothick and Strauss combining for 105. But only 20 balls were bowled in the middle session due to rain, giving the Australians time to regroup.