Chris Rogers was in sight of a coveted hundred at Lord's as Australia consolidated their strong position against England on the first day of the second Ashes Test, here today.
At tea, Australia were 191 for one, with Rogers 81 not out and Steven Smith -- dropped on 50 -- 62 not out.
The pair had so far added an unbroken 113 for the second wicket.
Left-hander Rogers -- who plans to retire after this series -- knows 'the home of cricket' well from his time with Lord's-based county side Middlesex.
This was the 37-year-old's seventh fifty in eight Test innings although none of those knocks had yet led to a century.
Australia got through the second session without losing a wicket and although a run-rate of under four an over was relatively slow by modern standards, they would have had few complaints about their position.
The only setback so far for the Ashes holders, looking to level the five-match series at 1-1 after England's 169-run win in the first Test in Cardiff last week, was the loss of David Warner for a well-made 38 before lunch.
Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked another typically good Lord's pitch.
Initially overcast skies offered a hint of swing movement but long before tea the sun had broken through as conditions for batting eased.
The first over saw Rogers fortunate to survive when he edged an intended drive off James Anderson just over the top of the slips for four.
