HAMPSHIRE’S Michael Carberry was guilty of a poor dropped catch on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Carberry fluffed a straightforward chance at backward point to get rid of Brad Haddin, who ended seven not out. England spinner Graeme Swann acknowledged England were disappointed to have dropped three catches but refused to apportion blame after the tourists had to settle for limiting Australia to 273 for five.

Chris Rogers led the way for the hosts at the Adelaide Oval scoring 72 at the top of the order, with three former Hampshire players also in the runs - George Bailey contributing 53, Shane Watson 51 and captain Michael Clarke 48 not out.

Stuart Broad took two wickets and James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar one apiece, but it could have been so much better for the tourists had a trio of chances not been put down after tea.

Panesar ought to have taken a straightforward return catch, offered by Bailey on 10, then Joe Root failed to cling on to a half-chance at midwicket to get rid of Michael Clarke, and then - worst of all - Carberry putting down the simplest of opportunities.

However, Swann said: “We're fairly pleased. Five five down for 270... it would have been ideal if we'd got six or seven. We missed a couple of chances that on another day we'd expect to take. But we stuck to our guns fairly well.

“We're disappointed, but not angry. That's cricket. You do drop catches. “We've fielded exceptionally well on this trip so far, taken some belters. “It's just a shame that today was the day that a couple went down but we've got a great spirit in the camp and nobody's going to be hard on anyone else.

“We know how hard we all work on our fielding, and we'll come back tomorrow and hopefully take those half-chances." Swann was encouraged by what he saw from the wicket on day one. “There's no pace in the deck whatsoever," he said.

"There's a little bit of turn. It's drier than we'd normally expect in Adelaide. It was slow and very easy to bat on if they were willing to play straight.

“We've got to try to come back tomorrow and get the ball talking early on. It got a bit of reverse swing today, which was encouraging. “If we can do that again tomorrow, and then a bit of spin from me and Monty, and hopefully go through them cheaply."

He added: “If we can keep them below 350, we'll be happy. You never know what par is until both teams have batted. We thought 500 was par (in the first Test defeat) last week and we only got 120!"