AUSTRALIA successfully survived a testing half hour in the opening Ashes Test today after England's lower order had secured the upper hand with important runs on the second day in Cardiff.

Resuming on 336 for seven, England exceeded their own expectations to reach 435 after off-spinner Graeme Swann hit an unbeaten 47 from only 40 balls.

But given 33 minutes to strengthen their advantage by making inroads into Australia's top order, England struggled to make a breakthrough with the tourists racing to 39 without loss to trail by 396 runs at lunch.

England had hoped to reach 400 but were guided to an even greater total by an enterprising innings from Swann, which helped add an impressive 99 in 16.5 overs before the innings finally ended.

Swann, who hit an unbeaten 63 against West Indies at Lord's in his previous Test innings, dominated the morning session to give England momentum in the early part of the second day.

Australia had taken little time to claim the first breakthrough of the morning with Stuart Broad being bowled by Mitchell Johnson for 19 when the ball hit the bottom of his thigh pad and bounced onto the stumps in the fourth over of the day.

But far from prompting a lower order collapse, that led to Swann inspiring an impressive counter-attack and he contributed 41 runs to a 68-run stand off only 53 balls with nightwatchman James Anderson.

Nottinghamshire's Swann signalled his intentions by hitting Johnson for successive boundaries and the speed of England's scoring rate caused Australian captain Ricky Ponting to introduce off-spinner Nathan Hauritz in a desperate effort to regain control.

It was a moral victory for England's tail and, sensing they had the initiative, Swann responded by hitting Hauritz for three successive boundaries in his first over to guide England to their initial target of 400.

Hauritz's first two overs cost 22 runs despite several deliveries turning sharply, which will have encouraged both Swann and England after they made the decision to play two spinners.

The partnership was finally broken when Anderson, who battled for 77 minutes at the crease to reach 26, finally lost patience and came down the wicket to Hauritz but picked out mid-on.

Last man Monty Panesar lasted only four overs before becoming the only member of England's line-up not to reach double figures when he was caught at slip off Hauritz to end the innings.

Hoping to make early inroads before the interval, England struggled to make an impact with hard-hitting opener Phillip Hughes underlining his potent threat with a flurry of early boundaries.

Dismissed cheaply in both innings by Steve Harmison during last week's match against England Lions at Worcester, England knew the dangers of allowing Hughes width outside off-stump after gathering reports of his performances during a successful stint with Middlesex at the start of the summer.

But they struggled to find the right line and length and Hughes hit four boundaries before lunch with Broad being removed from the attack after his first two overs cost 14 runs.