Controversy erupts in third Ashes Test

England's former skipper Michael Atherton walked off the Adelaide Oval shaking his head in disbelief after being given out to a disputed catch in an eventful final session which left the tourists on 160-3 at stumps.

The row deepened at the end of the day when team manager Graham Gooch said England would send a letter of protest over the decision to the international match referee, John Reid of New Zealand.

But Gooch added: ``There's no bad blood. We'll just get on with the game tomorrow.''

England were replying to Australia's first innings 391, with little left-hander Justin Langer contributing a superb unconquered 179 -- the highest score of his 14-Test career.

Unbeaten at the close for the tourists were fourth-wicket pair Nasser Hussain on 58 and Mark Ramprakash 45.

They lifted the tourists from a wobbly 84-3 just over an hour before stumps with a stand of 76 in 80 minutes.

But with the wicket taking increased spin as the game wears on, England's batsmen will need to show continued resolution to stay in the game.

Australian off-spinner Colin Miller had snapped up 48-2 and leg-spinner Stuart MacGill 28-1.

Atherton was looking good on 41 when he edged a delivery from MacGill towards first slip, where Australian captain Mark Taylor claimed a low catch a whisker above the grass.

Taylor threw up the ball jubilantly, pleading with West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, standing in his 40th Test, to confirm the dismissal.

An unsure Bucknor walked over to Australian square leg umpire Steve Davis, with the two deciding to resort to third umpire Paul Angley, also of Australia, for a television adjudication.

Angley ruled the catch was clean and Atherton was out.

Atherton stalked off with his head slumped, clearly believing the ball had made contact with the ground.

As controversy raged over the decision, leading commentators expressed strongly opposing views.

The BBC's Jonathon Agnew, after studying many replays, said he was satisfied Atherton was out.

But the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's highly respected Tim Lane was adamant Atherton should have been given not out.

``It should have been not out. It was a hurried decision -- and sadly a wrong one,'' he said.

Former Australian opening batsman Keith Stackpole said: ``The decision was certainly made very hastily.''

At stumps, Taylor told reporters: ``I told the umpires I wasn't sure and I left it to the third umpire.''

The incident came just as Atherton and Nasser Hussain were threatening to dominate the Australian attack after the early dismissal of left-handed opener Mark Butcher for six.

The second-wicket pair had hammered a crisp 65 in 60 minutes to take England to 83-1.

But Atherton's departure and the dismissal of captain Alec Stewart four minutes for a duck left England on an uncertain 84-3.

Stewart, having the worst form run of his career, survived only two balls before popping up a chance off Miller to Michael Slater at short leg.

Miller had begun England's troubles, snapping up Butcher in his first over when the left-hander was given out leg before by umpire Davis when he failed to play a shot.

The dramatic final session came after England had performed valiantly to wrap up Australia's first innings in good style, snapping up the last six wickets for 125 runs.

Fast bowler Dean Headley starred, grabbing three more wickets to finish with a fine 97-4 in his Test comeback.

Speedster Darren Gough captured two more, finishing with 103-3, while returning off-spinner Peter Such struck once more to have 99-3.

Langer, solid as a rock, was defiant to the end, thwarting the England attack for just over eight hours in an epic of endurance in the scorching Adelaide weather.