England paid "dearly" for their fielding lapses as Australia reached a formidable first-innings total of 485 on the second day of the first Test at the Gabba.

Both Steve Waugh and Ian Healy completed centuries today having been missed on the opening day as Australia, resuming on 246 for five, added 239 in 69 overs with tailender Damien Fleming increasing England's frustration by hitting an unbeaten 71.

England's disappointment at failing to restrict Australia was compounded by Glenn McGrath dismissing Michael Atherton for a duck before Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain guided the tourists to 53 for one at the close.

Coach David Lloyd admitted it was England's poor opening-day performance in the field which enabled Australia to get away and said: "Opportunities were there for us and we didn't take them.

"We had a mix-up over the run-out of Steve Waugh and dropped three catches and we have paid dearly for that. Players like Waugh and Healy are always going to take advantage of those half-chances."

Lloyd praised Alan Mullally, who finished with Test-best figures of five for 105 after being the main culprit behind the run-out mix-up of Waugh when he was on 29.

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