SPINNER Graeme Swann says England must up their game to earn the backing of the loud Cardiff crowd and loosen Australia's grip of the first Ashes Test.

Australia wrestled control of the game away from their hosts against a twin-spin attack that failed to make an impact on a turning wicket.

Centuries from Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich secured a 186-run lead and ensured that it will be the visitors that have a spring in their step this morning.

But Swann says it will take just one magical spell to get back on top and get the fans at the Swalec Stadium roaring them on to success.

“It was a good day for the crowd with a lot of banter flying around out there but on the field it was just tough cricket,” said the Nottinghamshire off-spinner who had earlier scored an aggressive and entaining unbeaten 47.

“The crowd work as a 12th man, that was showed in 2005, but we've got to deserve that backing. We can't just expect them to be buzzing every ball and screaming for Freddie to take a wicket – it's only going to happen if we are doing well.

“I think 249 for one doesn't speak very highly of the way we bowled but it probably accurately sums up the way we bowled. We didn't put the ball in the right areas enough.

“We can whinge about the ball going soft, the wicket being flat, Katich not being given out leg before to me when it was plumb but that is the nature of the game.

“They have got the momentum but it takes just one good spell to get us right back in it.

“It's not all doom and gloom by any means – we still have a lead of nearly 200 – but I think all the bowlers are looking forward to getting rid of this ball, throwing it in the river and getting a new one in their hands.”

Under-pressure England failed to ruffle the Australian second-wicket pair and were unable to produce the slow bowling chaos that many had predicted.

While Nathan Hauritz had managed to get some deliveries to turn sharply with bounce, England's pair of Swann and Monty Panesar had a frustrating afternoon.

“It turned about as much as I expected,” said Swann. “Everyone has said that it was going to turn square but I have played here before and I know the odd ball turns but the majority don't and you have to work hard for your wickets.

“We got a bit of false hope in the morning when Hauritz got some to turn off the straight to turn down the leg side and a couple to go out of the rough but it probably got me and Monty a bit over-excited.

“We tried our hearts out and put a lot on the ball but I can only remember about half-a-dozen turning and beating the outside edge.

“It's a county wicket and hasn't had a five-day game before so it will turn more as the game goes on. I think it has played a lot better than most people thought.”