A LATE burst from Australian paceman Peter Siddle and a Kevin Pietersen brain explosion have combined to keep England in check in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

On a topsy-turvy day, both sides threatened to gain the ascendancy before honours were shared as the home side finished the opening day at 7-336 at Sophia Gardens.

An inspired spell of swing bowling by Siddle (2-93) late in the day levelled up proceedings as he had both Andrew Flintoff (37) and Matt Prior (56) chopping the ball back onto their stumps.

Pietersen's (69) shocking shot against spinner Nathan Hauritz had earlier threatened to undo all his hard work before Prior's enterprising half century guaranteed his team a respectable total.

Surprisingly England called up a nightwatchman in James Anderson (2no) and he and the man he was sent in to protect, Stuart Broad (4no), remained unbeaten at Test cricket's newest venue.

Australia earlier made the surprise decision to name a bowling attack devoid of Ashes experience but Ben Hilfenhaus (2-61) more than justified his selection ahead of Stuart Clark by being the pick of the bowlers.

In an encouraging sign for England, the pitch was already taking turn on day one and their decision to play two spinners could pay big dividends later in the match.

After opting to bat, skipper Andrew Strauss (30) and Alastair Cook (10) negotiated the first half hour before Cook came undone playing at a wide Hilfenhaus delivery with Mike Hussey taking a spectacular diving catch to his right at gully.

The Australians immediately turned up the heat on Ravi Bopara (35), Siddle roughing him up in a menacing opening spell.

His second ball to Bopara struck the batsman just below the throat and deflected onto the grill of his helmet.

Mitchell Johnson (2-68) returned and made amends for his poor opening spell by removing Strauss and then just before lunch showed his smarts by deceiving Bopara with a slower ball.

Hauritz came onto bowl soon after lunch and the Australians placed three men immediately on the leg side fence in an attempt to test Pietersen's patience.

The South African-raised batsman kept his head in the middle session as he and Paul Collingwood (64) steadied the England innings with a 138-run stand to lift the home side out of a precarious position at 3-90.

It took a fine spell of swing bowling from Hilfenhaus after tea to part the experienced pair.

On 61, Pietersen pulled away just as the Tasmanian was about to deliver the ball and that infuriated the quick and he shared his thoughts with the flashy right-hander.

He then charged in next ball and responded with a perfectly delivered inswinger that was on line to take out the middle stump when it smashed into Pietersen's boot.

Umpire Billy Doctrove somehow thought otherwise.

But Hilfenhaus would not be denied, rebounding in his next over to have Collingwood (64) caught behind and then almost snaring Pietersen on 66.

Michael Clarke dropped a tough chance low down at cover before the right-hander's luck ran out on 69, out to an appalling shot to Hauritz in attempting a pre-meditated sweep at a ball that was a metre outside off stump.

Hauritz (1-67), who had unflattering figures of 2-260 on tour coming into the day's play, was understandably delighted at claiming the prized scalp.

Prior and Andrew Flintoff (37) put their heads down before branching out when the second new ball was taken in a valuable 86-run stand off 95 balls.

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