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Australia battled for survival after losing two wickets in the space of four balls on the fourth morning of the fifth and final Ashes test against England at the Oval on Sunday.

The Australians, who had been set a world record 546 to win on Saturday, reached 171 for two at lunch on a dusting pitch. Australia need at least a draw to retain the Ashes.

Simon Katich and Shane Watson resumed Australia's second innings on 80 for no wicket before a capacity crowd basking in the hot sun.

Katich (43) lasted only 15 minutes before he was lbw to Graeme Swann padding up to a straight delivery from the off-spinner. Watson followed in similar fashion for 40 in the following over from Stuart Broad, shuffling across his stumps to an off-cutter.

Ricky Ponting dug in against the England bowlers with a cluster of close fielders.

He was rapped repeatedly on his pads while Hussey, whose form has been in steady decline, edged a ball from Swann on the full to the boundary through Paul Collingwood's legs at first slip.

Runs came more freely towards the end of the session with Hussey cover-driving Andrew Flintoff to the boundary and Ponting taking two leg-side boundaries off Swann.

At the interval the Australian captain had scored 44 while Hussey was on 31.