Neither Australia or England could land the killer blow on the opening day of the second Ashes Test with both teams forced to share the honours after a topsy-turvy day at the Adelaide Oval.

Both teams were able to work themselves into strong positions at different stages of play, but with Australia going into stumps at 5-273, each team will feel they failed to capitalise in the key moments of the contest.

Brad Haddin survived a late LBW referral and a dropped catch from Michael Carberry, and will resume on Thursday morning unbeaten on seven alongside skipper Michael Clarke on 48.

Clarke received a lifeline when he was put down by Joe Root at mid-wicket off the bowling of Graeme Swann when he was on 18.

George Bailey and Clarke looked to have thwarted an England resurgence before tea, where the Poms took 3-19 to have the home side at 4-174 at the final break.

But public enemy No.1 Stuart Broad (2-63 off 19 overs) delivered a heavy blow just as it looked Australia would cruise to stumps with the loss of just four wickets, removing Bailey for 53 just after the veteran registered his first Test half century.

Australia were cruising at 1-155 in the second session with Chris Rogers and Shane Watson combining for a 121-run partnership, but a lapse of concentration leading into tea saw both batsmen dismissed in a six ball period that yielded no runs for the home side.

Australia's frustrations continued when Steve Smith (6) was bowled by spinner Monty Panesar (1-68 off 24 overs) on what would be the last ball before tea, capping off England's half hour of domination.But the most experienced Test player in the team combined with the least experienced Test player in the side to help swing the momentum in favour of Australia - that was until Bailey smashed a short ball from Broad to Graeme Swann at square leg to end the 83-run stand.

Both Watson and Rogers also threw away a golden opportunity to reach three figures for the first time this summer.

On a flat batting wicket at the new-look Adelaide Oval, Watson fell to James Anderson (1-56 off 21 overs) for 51 after he was caught and bowled by the England paceman.

Watson has now passed the half century 24 times in 47 Tests but has only converted those starts into a hundred on three occasions, again failing to buck a trend that has plagued him throughout his career.

It was Rogers' first Test half century on home soil, racking up the milestone off 135 balls - but a thin edge off the bowling of Graeme Swann (1-55 off 19 overs) saw him trudging back to the pavilion.

Watson joined Rogers in the middle before lunch after dynamic opener David Warner was dismissed by Stuart Broad in a rain-affected opening session for a quickfire 29.

Australia went into the lunch break at 1-46 after 14.2 overs after Warner popped a short and wide delivery from Broad straight to Carberry at point.

Clarke won the toss and elected to bat, naming an unchanged line-up from the victorious side from the first Test.

England called up all-rounder Ben Stokes to make his first Test appearance after the sudden departure of Jonathan Trott.

Joe Root was slotted into the No.3 role with the bat, while Stokes, who was presented with his England cap by former captain Andrew Strauss, will bat at No.6.

Australia: Warner, Rogers, Watson, Clarke (c), Smith, Bailey, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Harris, Lyon. England: Cook (c), Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell, Stokes, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Panesar.

with Chris Barrett