Just over a week since captain Nasser Hussain's miscalculation in bowling contributed to Australia's 384-run victory in the first Test, stand-in Marcus Trescothick made exactly the same mistake and received identical punishment.

Trescothick won the toss and chose to bowl, but then watched Australia A declare at 353 for three with Love following up the 250 he scored for Queensland against the tourists by hitting an unbeaten 201.

Facing a tricky 13 overs to negotiate before the close, England lost Michael Vaughan before reaching 50 for one at stumps on the opening day, although their bigger concerns were over the fitness of all-rounder Flintoff.

Having passed a fitness test to play following a second scan in four days on his groin, Flintoff flattered to deceive with the ball and finished with nought for 62 from 10 overs after conceding 40 runs from his opening five-over spell.

He failed to return after tea and was missing for a half-an-hour while he received further treatment to his troublesome groin, which may yet affect his participation in the remainder of the match.

Trescothick's decision to bowl appeared to have been vindicated with Alex Tudor sending opener Matthew Elliott to hospital when he hit him on the right elbow with the first ball of the day and then had Jimmy Maher caught behind in the seventh over of the morning.

After making early in-roads, though, Love dominated the England attack and forged a 140-run second wicket partnership with Greg Blewett.

Love raced to his century off only 114 balls before playing a slightly more cautious innings as England attempted to apply the brakes to the A team's run-scoring.

Blewett departed for 25 when he was bowled by a Craig White delivery which seamed back and hit his off-stump but Love merely swapped partners and teamed up with highly-rated Michael Clarke to forge a 123-run stand.

Clarke, rated as the batsman most likely to be called up by Australia in the future, contributed a determined half-century until he got a leading edge to Richard Dawson which was collected by substitute fielder Chris Silverwood after running around from mid-off.