Andrew Strauss' sixth Test century helped England set Australia an improbable 423 to take a 2-1 series lead at Old Trafford.

The Middlesex left-hander's second-innings effort was the main contribution in a total of 280 for six declared, ensuring the Australians will have to make the highest score to win a Test in history.

The current record is held by West Indies, who stacked up 418 to beat Australia two years ago in Antigua.

To put the task in perspective, however, the 231 for three compiled by England against West Indies last year was the biggest ever successful pursuit in Manchester.

Australia closed on 24 without loss, openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer surviving against the spin of Ashley Giles and captain Michael Vaughan in fading light.

After initially struggling for fluency and being struck by a Brett Lee bouncer for the second time in the match, Strauss got to his maiden half-century against the Australians from 89 deliveries, including five fours and a hooked six.

That maximum, off Lee, was followed by a pull off leg-spinner Shane Warne into the stands to move him into the 90s.

And he got to three figures with another similar stroke, this time for four, off Glenn McGrath as England surged towards a declaration.

Marcus Trescothick's stylish contribution came to an end when, having contributed 41 of a first-wicket stand of 64, he prodded down on a McGrath delivery which bounced back onto the stumps.

Captain Michael Vaughan also succumbed in the pursuit of quick runs but Strauss, England's man of the series last winter in South Africa, was joined in a 127-run stand with Ian Bell, who hit his second half-century of the Test.

Ambition accounted for Strauss, however, when he mishit another cross-bat shot off McGrath to be held low down in the deep by Damien Martyn off McGrath.

Veteran paceman McGrath claimed his 28th five-wicket haul in Tests by sending back Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Bell in quick succession although he also took some punishment, with Geraint Jones lofting two huge sixes to signal a declaration from Vaughan.

Earlier, Simon Jones claimed a career-best Test haul as Australia were dismissed for 302.

Glamorgan fast bowler Jones, playing in his 17th match at this level, provided England with the cutting edge required to finish off stubborn resistance from the Australian tail and end with figures of six for 53.

Warne's luck ran out 10 runs shy of a maiden Test hundred when, having been missed twice yesterday evening by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, he perished to Simon Jones' second ball of the day.

The first was clouted through the off side by Warne for a boundary but the next, pitched halfway down the track, was hooked straight to deep square-leg.

It was no surprise that it was the golden arm of the Welshman which broke the 90-run partnership between Warne and Jason Gillespie, given his ability to strike at the very start of spells.

His second success of the morning, however, came from a combination of calculated fast bowling and a fine slip catch from Marcus Trescothick.

Brett Lee was given a working over with a nasty bouncer followed by a probing line outside off-stump, which resulted in an edge to Trescothick, diving to his left.

A rare piece of aggression from Gillespie, when he hooked Jones into the stands at long leg to bring up the 300, encouraged captain Michael Vaughan to take the new ball.

And with the third delivery Jones gained a leg-before decision which took his tally to six victims.