Woakes lifts

But Mark Stoneman’s third successive 50 on his maiden Ashes tour, and Jonny Bairstow’s telling 61 not out, carried them to 207 all out and set 268 to win.

That target then quickly disappeared over the darkening horizon for CA as Woakes took over with an opening spell of four for 12.

He struck with his second delivery, bowling Jake Carder on the defence, and soon had CA’s other opener Nick Larkin caughtbehind and Will Pucovski at gully.

Craig Overton bowled home captain Tim Paine on the defence, then had Jason Sangha caught at second slip, with Ryan Gibson edging Woakes behind.

James Anderson, wicketless with the new ball, soon put that right in his second spell to make it 25 for seven before Matt Short (28no) and Gurinder Sandhu (17no) managed to inflict the minor inconvenience of a Saturday afternoon resumption.

England’s chief concern nonetheless remains Alastair Cook’s extended wait for a substantial score, as his struggle for 32 in an opening stand of 79 took his tally since mid-August to 108 in seven attempts.

But they had plenty more to think about too, once Milenko and Sandhu got started.

Cook’s stay was at times tortured, bringing him a solitary run from his first 22 balls, featuring two close calls for lbw on 16 against first-change Milenko and an edge between wicketkeeper and slip on 30 off leg-spin debutant Daniel Fallins.

England’s all-time leading Test runscorer is nothing if not determined, though, and the tourists can only hope his scrambled thirtysomething - before edging a cut behind off Milenko - can prove an improbable launchpad for a prosperous campaign after all.

Stoneman reached his 100ball half-century just before the end of the first session, only to fall without addition after tea