FORMER Oxfordshire batsman Andrew Strauss admitted England had to dig deep after a mini-collapse threatened to undermine their first innings in the Ashes decider at The Oval against Australia yesterday.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne single-handedly worked his side into the contest, claiming 4-16 in an eight-over spell either side of lunch after the tourists struggled for an initial breakthrough.

He struck again in the final half hour to remove centurion Strauss (129) during a run of three wickets for 23 runs as England finished on 319-7.

Strauss, who now has seven hundreds in only 19 Test appearances, said: "It never felt that comfortable because of the pressure of the situation, we had to dig deep and I really enjoyed playing with Andrew Flintoff out there.

"Marcus Trescothick has been doing really well all series and he continued in that vein, getting 80-odd on board was just what we needed to settle the nerves of the guys.

"Although losing three wickets let them (Australia) in and it was hard work from there.

Watched by wife Ruth in the crowd, Strauss was happy to play a supporting role at times to Andrew Flintoff (72) in a fifth wicket stand of 143.

Strauss said: "I think today was about par. If we'd been offered 319-7 at the start we would have been reasonably happy, especially having been 130-4. We've come back well and shown our fighting qualities."

But Warne, who finished with 5-118, was the man of the day, in his last Test in England.

Due to celebrate his 36th birthday on Tuesday, Warne has already announced this would be the scene of his last Test appearance on English soil, having been the key factor in Australia's Ashes dominance since he first toured here 12 years ago.