Ian Bell continued to dominate the 2013 Ashes series as he hit a third consecutive century against Australia to lead England's first innings recovery at Lord's.
Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen were all dismissed in 13 mad minutes as the hosts were reduced to 28 for three, but Bell, aided by Jonathans Trott and Bairstow, hit his 19th hundred from 203 balls in 300 minutes.
The 31-year-old, a veteran of four previous Ashes series, struck 115 in Sydney in January 2011 and reached three-figures last week in two England victories against their greatest rivals.
Chris Broad, Wally Hammond and Jack Hobbs are the only other English batsmen to hit three successive centuries versus the Australians.
Nine runs later, Steven Smith, bowling his maiden over this Ashes series, dismissed Bell for 109, the same total he ended on at Nottinghamshire last Saturday.