The Ashes: Chris Rogers and Steve Smith lead Australia to 337-1 on frustrating opening day for England - The Mirror

The tourists had the better of the first day of the second Test, batting all day for the loss of a single wicket at Lord's

Before this series, Chris Rogers was plunged into hot water when a company he co-founded was banned from selling corporate packages for this match at almost £3,000 a time.

When they etched the Aussie opener's name on the Lord's honours board last night, after a century which leaves England staring down the barrel in the second Ashes Test, Rogers will have considered the experience absolutely priceless.

Rogers and Steve Smith discovered the commonsense which Australia had lacked in their thrashing at Cardiff to craft hundreds which set the platform for the tourists levelling this series.

For Alastair Cook and his vibrant new England team it was a day of heartbreaking frustration.

The captain had spoken about positivity, about refusing to simply protect the series lead they had earned, about thriving on the feelgood factor which has gripped this cricketing summer.

Yet confronted with a road of a wicket at HQ, it felt as if England's attack were banging their heads against solid tarmac.

England did not bowl badly, on the whole, with Stuart Broad excellent in desperately challenging conditions. And Cook continued to innovate in the field, rather than attempt to bore out Smith and Rogers.

Yet the only wicket to fall was gifted by a brainless shot from David Warner as Australia reached a whopping 337-1.

All is not entirely lost. New Zealand scored 523 in their first innings and lost here in May.

But modern Test matches are rarely drawn without bad weather. The forecast is set fair and England probably face four days of hard labour to emerge from here with their 1-0 lead intact.

The widespread belief that England have asked all their groundsmen to prepare lifeless pitches to nullify Aussie strike bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc could prove counterproductive if Cook loses many more tosses.

It certainly doesn't make for rip-roaring entertainment.

And scoreboard pressure could prove overwhelming with the Aussies likely to declare somewhere north of 600 after tea today.

First England must try to dislodge Smith, cricket's greatest fidget, who started this series as the world's No 1 batsman.

Between each delivery he receives, the Aussie No 3 faffs and fiddles to his heart's content, seemingly checking his pockets for wallet, keys, phone and fags.

He'd be rubbish at musical statues but when he settles at the crease, he is an excellent timer of a cricket ball. Smith was dropped off Ben Stokes by Ian Bell at second slip on 50 - but after that he cruised.

Rogers, with ample experience of batting here for Middlesex - who banned his company from flogging those tickets - had notched seven successive Test fifties without completing a century until a second-innings failure at Cardiff.

After edging over the slips off Jimmy Anderson to the third ball of the match, the 37-year-old rarely looked in danger. They will urge him to reconsider his plans to retire at the end of the series if this form continues. Warner perished shortly after noon to a characteristic display of over-confidence - hoisting Moeen Ali to long off, having despatched the spinner's first two deliveries for four.

Thereafter, it was grim and remorseless - without a single DRS referal and barely an appeal. Geoffrey Boycott even complained he was falling asleep.

Within the space of two Anderson overs, Smith pulled through mid-wicket to bring up three figures and Rogers matched him with a gorgeous straight drive.

Later on, it was carnage. Even the second new ball failed to have any effect as Rogers reached 158, Smith 129 and England the edge of reason.