Rory Burns and Joe Root both had moments of good fortune as they steered England to a promising platform of 71 for one on the second morning of the first Ashes Test.
Jason Roy was the only wicket to fall before lunch, dismissed by James Pattinson for 10 after an uncomfortable stay that will only amplify the debate over his role in an unfamiliar opening position, but Burns made a hard-working 41 not out to answer his own critics.
He would have gone for 21 had Australia reviewed Nathan Lyon's sound lbw appeal but, that aside, the Surrey skipper batted with character and courage in response to the tourists' first-day score of 284.
The introduction of Lyon's off-spin threatened to change things, particularly when his first ball turned wickedly and into an unsuspecting Root.
Lyon did enough to see off Burns with one that gripped but his appeal was waved away and captain Tim Paine, who had the best seat in the house behind the stumps, decided not to refer.
Root had an even luckier moment on nine, Pattinson beating him with a beauty that flew into Paine's gloves.
The Yorkshireman was convinced he had not hit it and called for a review which showed the ball had shaved the outside of the off stump and somehow failed to dislodge the bails.
