Eng v Aus, 3rd Investec Test, Old Trafford, 1st day

Rogers shines before DRS rears again

Lunch Australia 92 for 2 (Rogers 67*, Clarke 5*) v England

A sparkling start by Chris Rogers was undermined by the cruellest of DRS fates for Usman Khawaja as Australia reached 92 for 2 against England on the first morning of the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Bounding along at 76 for 0, the tourists lost Shane Watson before Khawaja was given out caught behind and then was flummoxed to see the original decision upheld after replays suggested strongly that he had not edged his attempted drive at Graeme Swann.

The verdict reached by Tony Hill and upheld by Kumar Dharmasena will serve mainly to batter the reputation of the serving umpires and the protocols of the DRS, which places a heavy weighting on the on-field umpire's initial call. Khawaja's exit was reminiscent of Ashton Agar's during the Lord's Test - although on that occasion not out became out - and will enhance Australia's sense of injustice in a series where the wide margin so far has been hurried along by numerous questionable decisions.

It also removed some of the gloss from a wonderfully calm yet positive innings from Rogers, who essayed barely a single false shot while punching many good deliveries to the Old Trafford boundaries. His success has been a long time in coming, having waited until the age of 35 for a decent chance at Test cricket then endured a difficult Lord's match. In the afternoon he will hope to go on from this platform in the company of the captain Michael Clarke.

The Australians made three changes to the side humiliated by 347 runs at Lord's. Phillip Hughes was dropped for the return of David Warner in his new role as a middle-order counterpuncher, while Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon replaced James Pattinson and Agar. The tourists thus omitted the authors of their two highest individual scores for this series.

By contrast, England named an unchanged XI, resisting the temptation to include the extra spin of Monty Panesar or the the height and pace of Chris Tremlett. Kevin Pietersen retained his place after proving he had recovered sufficiently from a calf strain. The Old Trafford pitch was dry but hard, offering some bounce to England's pace bowlers in addition to the spin expected for Swann.

James Anderson took the new ball at his home ground, though its reconfiguration in the middle and in the stands made it something of an unknown quantity for players on both sides. Watson collected a single and Rogers a boundary from the first over, a pattern that would be maintained throughout their partnership in conditions quickly revealed to be the most friendly for batsmen all series.

Rogers and Watson had trained together in London between Tests rather than travelling down to play against Sussex, and their new approaches reflected plenty of thought. Watson was largely conservative, battling to value his wicket and also to avoid the lbw fate that had befallen him three times in four innings. But Rogers showed far greater intent to score than simply survive, and punished all but the most minute errors of line and length.

Sequences of boundaries pushed Rogers along in between the deliveries he gave their due respect, a brace off Tim Bresnan through gully and down the ground, then a trio to the fence in a single Anderson over took him to a second Test fifty. All these shots were played with assurance and no great sense of haste, but Rogers' intent had given Australia an ideal start.

At the other end, however, Watson was becalmed and, though he did not fall lbw, it was less of a surprise to see Bresnan find a way through, coaxing an edge from a firm defensive blade that flew straight to Alastair Cook at first slip. Watson wandered off having again made only a start, his wicket drawing England back into the morning.

Khawaja was greeted by the introduction of Swann, and in his second over an optimistic lbw appeal was followed next ball by a more convincing shout for a catch at the wicket. Khawaja's bat brushed his pad well before swishing at the turning ball, but Hill's finger was raised. After a brief pause to consult Rogers, Khawaja referred, shaking his head as he did so.

Despite replays that offered no evidence whatsoever of an edge, the third umpire Dharmasena upheld Hill's original call. These are the kinds of decisions that can break the spirit of struggling teams, and Khawaja walked off with the wronged air of a man found guilty of a crime he did not commit. For all his good work in the morning, Rogers must do it all over again in the afternoon.