Watching the match-saving partnership between Michael Clarke and Marcus North on Monday, I couldn't help but draw parallels between England toiling unsuccessfully and Australia missing out on an expected victory at Cardiff.
England's innings got off to a bad start when Nasser Hussain, opening with Butcher in the absence of rested duo Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, was bowled second ball by Dilhara Fernando for a duck.
The other option for Australia would be to include Brett Geeves, who like McKay has played two one-dayers but has yet to experience Test cricket, in an all-seam attack and rely on Marcus North and Michael Clarke to provide any spin they might need.
Earlier, Marcus North (90), Michael Clarke (63) and Brad Haddin (48) pushed Australia to 511-8 declared.
Michael Vaughan is now the favourite, with Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Adam Hollioake and conceivably Ronnie Irani completing a fairly thin field.
Fuller would have been celebrating a hat-trick had he not headed Chris Lucketti's cross over, while Preston's Michael Keane forced a save from Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann with a stinging drive.
Broad relished bowling with the new ball, nipping out Liam Davis and Michael Swart almost immediately for ducks, before Test batsman Marcus North (19) also departed to the tall Nottinghamshire seamer.
Lillee accepts England have been hit by injuries to key players like Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones, and the return home of Marcus Trescothick with a stress-related illness.
BBC: SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | Lillee blames England preparation
Michael Crossley , 26, of Bradford Road, Farnworth, Greater Manchester, and Marcus Hill, 28, of Chedworth Crescent, Little Hulton, Salford, have been charged with assisting an offender.
Michael Vaughan, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles are all nursing injuries at home, while Marcus Trescothick is absent for personal reasons.
BBC: SPORT | Cricket | England | Harmison waits for injury verdict
Michael Hussey played uncertainly forward and feathered an edge to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin before Marcus North drove a catch to Ramnaresh Sarwan first slip.
BBC: Australia cling on to draw with West Indies in Adelaide
Alongside Marcus Trescothick, he must be the right choice for now to open for his country, allowing Michael Vaughan to drop down the order as he has done in Test matches.
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