By Peter May

Click here for Peter May's view on day two

CLOSE: Australia, 1st Innings 210 for seven, trail England by 234 runs

1822: Over 56 Warne blocks out the first couple and thinks there is two to deep mid-wicket, but England keep it to one and Gillespie is exposed with six close catchers. But the number nine sees off the over to the close.

1817: Over 55 Little doing from Flintoff, and Jones must surely feel hard done-by to have been denied the final over of the day from the Stretford End.

1814: Flintoff returns for Jones, a somewhat unfortunate judgement on Jones unless the Welshman is to replace Giles.

1813: Over 54 Warne refuses to throw in the towel, bisecting long-on and long-off with a hit over the top for six. He otherwise stone-walls Giles until the final ball when a single down to Flintoff at long-on keeps the strike.

1810: Over 53 Jason Gillespie leapfrogs Brett Lee in the order to try and play out the day and makes a good start, playing out the over.

1806: WICKET!
MJ Clarke c Flintoff b SP Jones Jones sends down the slower off-spinner and Clarke lets his frustration get the better of him in scooping a simple catch straight to Flintoff at mid-on.

1802: Over 52 England crowding the bat to Clarke who continues in obvious discomfort, unable to move his feet in the usual carefree fashion. But he protects his stumps to edge closer to the end of play and a massage.

1758: Over 51 Warne continues to personify the exemplary competitor as he chivvies along Clarke and Hayden towards the close. Great manmanagement skills from the best captain Australia never had, and it yields runs for both batsmen in a productive over, though no boundaries. The over finishes with a rap on the pads for Warne and umpire Bucknor gives Jones a brief reminder of the wicket's "protected area".

1753: There will be play until 1820 to make amends for the lost time in this morning's rain delay.

1752: Over 50 Giles allows Warne a single but tries to circle Clarke but the batsman has good movement despite his injury and resists the pressure to play out the over.

1748: Over 49 Clarke makes his belated arrival with Hayden in tow as a runner. Jones tries to give Clarke a working over with a couple of bouncers but the new batsman is resolute in defence and his back injury has not impeded his ducking ability.

1744: WICKET!
AC Gilchrist c GO Jones b SP Jones Jones does it again, taking a wicket with the first ball of his spell after moving the ball across the left-hander to draw an edge behind. Still 63 to avoid the follow-on.

1744: Simon Jones replaces Harmison.

1743: Over 48 An over of big appeals from Giles, for lbw and caught behind but Bowden is interested in neither. Any disrespect harboured by Australia has surely evapourated after another fine day from the slow bowler.

1740: Over 47 Gilchrist angles the first ball behind square on off for four and moves onto 29.

1738: Over 46 Another decent over from Giles but the need for fireworks grows and perhaps Vaughan will now be looking to one of his seamers for a couple of overs from the Brian Statham End.

1735: Over 45 Harmison is struggling to make an impact, going for runs this over with Shane Warne square drive on off for four the pick of the bunch. Australia looked to be losing the plot in the run-up to lunch but claimed two huge wickets - can England now do the same?

1731: Over 44 Giles allows Gilchrist an early single and tries to apply more pressure to Warne. He does it superbly, following a couple of flat one with a slow, flighty ball but the batsman's false shot goes unpunished and he finishes the over with two through mid-wicket. They may be riding their luck, but Australia are getting back on top.

1728: Over 43 Harmison really gets at a batman for the first time today, really giving Warne a going over and the legspinner can't get near the ball.

1723: Over 42 Gilchrist takes a hard single down the ground and Warne has a hard chase for a single but gets home quite comfortably. With the right-hander back on strike Giles has three close catchers and three leg-side sweepers but Warne plays the ball quite cleverly, working a single through mid-on.

1719: Over 41 Warne greets Harmison with consumate style, knocking the ball over mid-off for four. The fast bowler gets a couple to move and it's a reasonable over for England but these hard-hitting batsmen are slowly clawing back the match.

1715: Harmison replaces Flintoff at the Stretford End.

1713: Over 42 Gilchrist tries to hit Giles over mid-on at succeeds by the skin of his teeth, reaching the boundary with one bounce. That is enough to move to total to 148 for five, and less than 100 to avoid the follow-on.

1709: Over 41 Flintoff continues to work on the ball as he looks to get more reverse swing out of the tiring ball. Gilchrist takes a single to backward point and Flintoff goes back around the wicket to Warne. The legspinner responds by moving across his stumps to outside off and Flintoff hits his shoulder with a no-ball bouncer. He finishes with another bouncer, fended off without conviction.

1705: Over 40 Giles almost snares Gilchrist as a wild slash off the inside edge hits the pad to evade Bell. Warne is back on strike, surrounded by fielders with a word or two for the talkative batsman. He is grateful to work a single and then sees Gilchrist keep the scorecard moving with another woeful miscue off the inside edge.

1700: Over 39 Flintoff almost spears Warne in front of the stumps with an in-swinging yorker but just misses leg. Warne pursues his Flintoff strategy of shuffling across the stumps and the bowler responds by bowling around the wicket. The final ball is blocked.

1657: Over 38 Gilchrist takes a single to mid-off though still looks uncomfortable. Warne immediately puts his back on strike with a sweep to square leg and the left-hander plays out the over.

1655: Michael Clarke arrives at Old Trafford as he prepares to bat through a back injury.

1654: Over 37 England put down Gilchrist twice in the over, Bell failing to hold a flier in the cordon and Pietersen struggling to get on top of a drive at short cover. Tough chances, but chances nonetheless and they have to be taken against batsmen this good if you have an eye on the follow-on. Gilchrist keeps the strike.

1649: Over 36 Though Clarke is now allowed to come in to bat, it is Shane Warne who arrives at the crease. Vaughan immediately puts in two slips, a gully and two close catchers but Warne remains unbeaten as the crowd rises to salute Giles once again at the end of the over.

1645: WICKET!
DR Martyn b Giles 18 Giles lands an absolute beauty on leg, spinning the ball across the face of the bat to hit off stump with a delivery of which any slow bowler would be proud.

1643: Over 35 Gilchrist remains determined to play his shots, and takes advantage of Vaughan's reluctance to have a second slip by guiding a fast-rising off-stump ball through the gap for four. The England captain unsmilingly shuts the stable door as the horse retreats over the horizon, though the feeling remains that England's all-rounder has the beating of Australia's at the moment.

1638: Over 34 Gilchrist looks to impose himself on Giles but the spinner, buoyed by two wickets today and the wicketkeeper's dismissal at Edgbaston, is unbowed and gives as good as he gets with an intelligently varied over which costs two singles.

1632: Over 33 Flintoff welcomes Adam Gilchrist with two fast, away-swinging deliveries. He has only one slip but two gullies and is, of course, bowling around the wicket. But the left-hander gets off the mark final ball of the over, driving through cover for three as SP Jones prevents the boundary.

1628: WICKET!
SM Katich b Flintoff 17 First ball after the drinks break and Flintoff hits timber, landing a ball outside off and getting big reverse swing to shock Katich, who had offered no stroke, by swinging back in to hit the top of off stump.

1626: Over 32 Giles begins with a decent lbw shout against Katich but Bowden is in no mood to give England another benefit of the doubt after earlier raising the finger to Hayden. Still the slow bowler is getting movement out of the marks but the bounce remains true.

1622: Over 31 Solid return from Flintoff who immediately finds a little movement but Martyn and Katich have settled down nicely since the loss of two wickets immediately after tea.

1617: Flintoff replaces SP Jones in the England attack at the Stretford End.

1616: Over 30 Giles works away at the Brian Statham End but Old Trafford has brought a return of the cat-and-mouse of Test cricket as opposed to the previous fireworks in this series which have been more akin to Bear vs Shark.

1611: Over 29 Martyn brings up the 100 with a well-timed four through mid-wicket as Jones strays from his line. The trademark angle through gully then brings a four as Strauss can't get down to block and Jones finishes with his worst ball of the day, an off-side long hop which is only stopped from going for four by some dogged fielding. England had initially pinned down the number four but he has broken free in that over.

1608: Over 28 Giles continues to rattle through the overs with a close catcher now employed on either side in front of square but still plenty of deep fieldsmen as Vaughan's pioneering in/out field settings seek to further unsettle the Australian batsmen. It works to the extent that this is another boundary-less over.

1604: Over 27 Jones continues to get decent movement, shaping the ball across Martyn and trying to tempt him into overstretching in his paradoxically strongest and weakest area. Australia are in no mood to gamble, however, and the over passes without any great incident.

1600: Over 26 Giles begins the over with a massive appeal against Katich but Bowden rejects. Katich then hammers a cut backward of square and SP Jones cannot block, sustaining an arm injury. Marcus Trescothick has a lot of ground to cover to the boundary and they run four but this almost works in England's favour as Katich turns the final ball of the over just past Bell at short leg.

1554: Over 25 Jones is a truly impressive figure when really bowling with confidence and pace as he is now, and some big movement continues to disquiet Martyn.

1548: Over 24 With Michael Clarke absent through injury, Simon Katich comes to the crease. First ball beats the outside edge and Bowden rejects appeals for caught behind. The batsman responds by attacking and edges wide of slip for the streakiest of fours before finishing with a single. The crowd rises to its feet to acknowledge Giles.

1546: WICKET!
ML Hayden lbw b Giles 34 A tough decision on Hayden, who is hit outside off stump by a ball turning big out of the rough. It would have gone on to hit all three but did not meet the pad inside the line and the batsman's obvious disillusionment with the decision is understandable.

1544: Over 23 More movement from SP Jones, who beats Martyn's outside edge with an away swinger but GO Jones can't collect and they take a bye. He then raps Hayden on the pads twice with in-swingers and though Steve Bucknor dismisses the claims it is promising indeed for England.

1540: Over 22 Each batsman takes a single to Giles on the drive but the slow bowler is doing his job if he can keep it to three or less and over and Vaughan certainly looks happy enough with his defensive field.

1536: Giles to resume from the Brian Statham End.

1536: Over 21 Damien Martyn comes to the crease and immediately gets a very fast, rising ball which he blocks more by luck than judgement. But he keeps his composure throughout the final four balls.

1531: WICKET!
RT Ponting c Bell b SP Jones 7 Jones strikes the first ball after tea, lifting the ball outside off and hitting the shoulder of Ponting's bat to allow the easiest of catches at point for Bell.

1531: SP Jones will continue from the Stretford End.

1530: The players return to the field of play.

1513: End of session

Australia, 1st Innings 73 for one, trail England by 371 runs Australia head to tea in good spirits after setting after England's first-inning total in some style.

Matthew Hayden is finding his form with an unbeaten 33 and, though Justin Langer fell to a brilliant catch from Ian Bell off the bowling of Ashley Giles, the pitch still holds little fear for batsmen.

England will want at least two more wickets before the close but that may be a big ask if these destructive batsmen get going.

1513: Over 20 Hayden is looking increasingly assured, blocking two balls and then taking a single. Ponting takes a four square of the wicket, the ball whistling past Pietersen at point.

1510: Over 19 A strong, tight over from Jones allows Hayden only a single. England now know that there is a long day ahead and that only sustained pressure and discipline will see them end the day in decent shape.

1505: Over 18 Giles continues from the Brian Statham End with Bell still in at short leg. Ponting takes a single off the first ball and Hayden is initially watchful but finishes the over with a four and a single.

1500: Over 17 Hayden takes a single off Jones to put Ricky Ponting, who faced one ball previously to Giles, back on strike. He looks confident and takes a single off the final ball to keep the strike.

1455: Jones does indeed come straight back on at the Stretford End.

1454: Over 16 Brilliant start from Giles puts England back on competitive terms and, best of all, removes the tourists' best top-order batsman this summer.

1449: WICKET!
JL Langer c Bell b Giles 31 A wicket made in Warwickshire brings a much-needed breakthrough. Giles is initially denied a caught-behind appeal by another good Bowden decision but hits back immediately, drawing Langer up the crease and seeing Bell's right hand cling onto a very difficult chance.

1446: Ashley Giles comes on for Jones after just one over, presumably with a view to moving the Welshman to the Stretford End.

1445: Over 15 Even Flintoff's magic appears dimmed by this tame wicket with a couple of no-balls hardly helping the bowler's confidence. Australia move to 58 without loss.

1440: Over 14 Jones gets a decent lbw appeal to Hayden in his first over but will struggle for reverse swing with the newish ball and is surely therefore of limited value here.

1435: Simon Jones replaces Hoggard at the Brian Statham End.

1435: Over 13 Flintoff runs in gamely but the batsmen don't have to work too hard on a pitch like this.

1432: Over 12 Hoggard perseveres from the Brian Statham End, and bowls a maiden to keep the deficit to 400. It is all but impossible to criticise Vaughan's fields as he has shown himself to be a master tactician but the in-out off-side field is certainly unusually negative for this stage in a Test innings.

1427: Over 11 Hayden picks up the first ball beautifully and rocks onto the back foot before stroking through cover. Flintoff responds with a 92mph bouncer and a similarly quick couple of straighter balls. The Old Trafford crowd are beginning to find their voice to lift England, though this massive old ground still lacks the atmosphere of Edgbaston last week where the Eric Hollies Stand, populated by alliterative inebriates with names such as World Wide Webber and Boom Boom Bill became England's "12th man". Whether from the stands, the captain, the talisman or elsewhere, England need some inspiration.

1423: Over 10 Hoggard runs in as gamely as ever and beats Langer's outside edge with one beauty but there are no easy wickets to be had in Manchester. The Yorkshireman continues to work hard and claims a maiden, though to a defensive field which suggests England have given up the attack a little prematurely.

1419: Over 9 Flintoff restarts after that interlude with a brilliant bouncer and continues to work over Langer who is glad to scamper a single. Hayden then tries to hook a bouncer and is lucky to miss it completely, the over finishes with a more authoritative forward defensive.

1414: There is a delay while the players try to persuade an official from moving around in front of the sightscreen, though it is a mystery why he needs any telling. A game of hide-and-seek behind walls and pillars ensues until Freddie Flintoff uses his power as the most popular man in Lancashire to get the man to stay out of the way.

1412: Over 8 Hoggard pushes a couple on to Hayden and the batsman is definitely still some way short of confidence and form. It's a tighter over from England but the run rate remains almost five and the hosts need a wicket.

1408: Over 7 Flintoff gets a decent start but can't find the bounce generated by Lee, perhaps due to the earlier rain though the track itself was promptly covered. The final ball of the over brings some drama as Langer almost chops on and Hayden takes a quick single, GO Jones picking up without a glove and executing a direct hit but too late.

1404: Andrew Flintoff replaces Harmison in the England attack.

1403: Over 6 The hope that Hoggard would extract some swing have proven empty as Hayden hits an on-drive away for four. But he responds well with one that straightens and gets up on the batsman, Hayden taps it back straight and Hoggard's momentum has just taken him off the track to the left meaning that the bowler's attempt at a c & b ends in agonising failure, the ball slipping through the fingers and to ground to his right.

1358: Over 5 Hayden begins with a single and Langer takes three to put the big man back on strike. A clubbed drive through mid-on is not really hit well but there's another three for Hayden there and Vaughan must already be weighing his bowling options.

1353: Over 4 As usual, Hoggard versus Langer is a duel much more in the tourists' favour than Harmison versus Hayden. Two balls are given the slightest width and promptly sent to the extra-cover boundary. The diminutive opener then furthers his reputation for conscientiousness by not getting carried away and leaving a couple of better balls outside off.

1348: Over 3 Never one to allow himself to be dominated, Hayden takes the fight to Harmison with an attempted hook and is very lucky that an uncontrolled top edge falls safe for four at backward sqaure. The burly opener takes another two but is also comprehensively beaten by a couple of jaffers as Harmison continues his terrorisation of the Australia top order.

1344: Over 2 First ball of the over swings in on Hayden from middle and off and is hit the pad on a middle-and-leg line. It's a marginal call but difficult for umpire Bowden to be sure and he's well within his rights to turn down a vehement England appeal. Langer forces a leg bye amid that confusion and sees off the over to keep his under-pressure partner away from the spotlight.

1341: Matthew Hoggard to bowl despite a knee problem which required attention from the physio.

1340: Over 1 Harmison begins with a line on Langer's body and each of the first four deliveries is fended off his legs and into the space in and around mid-wicket. The fifth is fuller and outside off and played away square of the wicket with Kevin Pietersen chasing down from point to prevent a boundary and keep it to two. The final ball is an off-side bouncer, left alone.

1336: Steve Harmison to bowl the first over with Bell in at leg gully, three slips and a gully.

1335: Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer take the field with England already out and huddled up.

1325: England 1st Innings 444 all out

1325: WICKET!
SP Jones b Warne 0 Warne gives one plenty of air and draws Jones into a wild swipe, knocking over all three to wrap up a remarkable turnaround and fantastic first three hours for the tourists.

1324: Over 113 Harmison throws the bat and chips over mid-off and mid-on to add precious runs. An attempted hook is a little too much and misses by some distance, leaving Jones on strike.

1320: Over 112 Simon Jones begins in less than convincing fashion with two plays-and-misses, the latter a huge swing missing the ball by inches and he is lucky to avoid an lbw shout as the ball hits on and around an off-stump line. It'll be all or nothing now with these two powerful but imprecise tailenders at the crease.

1316: WICKET!
AF Giles c Hayden b Warne 0 One slow bowler out-flanks another with a classic legspinner, drawing the batsman into a shot outside off and edging a straightforward chance to first slip.

1312: Over 111 Harmison leaves the first ball outside off but then steers a ball behind square on the off and is only denied a four by the quick hands of Langer at third man. They run three and Giles sees out the over.

1309: The players return to the field with Steve Harmison joining Giles and Gillespie still to bowl four balls.

1231: End of session

England 1st Innings 434 for eight Just as we had a conventional Test match without the twists which have defined this series so far, Australia undermine England's dominance with two quick wickets to claim the session and regain a foothold in this match.

England remain marginal favourites but both Ian Bell and Andrew Flintoff will feel they have missed opportunities after getting out to lazy shots following good starts.

The failure of a second front-line batsman to match Michael Vaughan's century, an eventuality confirmed when Geraint Jones fell on the cusp of lunch, surely robs the hosts of the chance to set a huge first-innings title since there is no-one left to guide the tail.

Australia will therefore hope they will only face a deficit of 450, when 550 looked a distinct probability just 15 minutes before lunch.

1231: Over 110.2 Gillespie responds to the critics and the crowd's jeers with a wicket to ensure that Australia edge the session.

1231: WICKET!
GO Jones b Gillespie 42 The much-maligned seamer removes Jones with a brilliant off-cutter to take the match to lunch.

1226: Over 110 Jones is back on strike after crossing with the ball in mid-air but promptly exposes Ashley Giles with a single off his legs. His first ball could not be less convincing, an airy shot outside off stump which just misses the ball. The next ball is arguably worse, turning the bat front on and almost offering a c & b with the leading edge.

1221: WICKET!
A Flintoff c Langer b Warne 46 A second silly dismissal of the morning costs England their best chance of a really big first-innings total as Flintoff gets greedy against Warne and hits him straight down the throat of long-on.

1218: Over 109 Gillespie does not get the luck he needs early on, Langer slipping down at third man and allowing Jones the cheapest of fours. To add insult to injury, the ball ends in a puddle so will now be tougher still to bowl with. Jones drops the bat on the next ball and runs it behind square, Hayden slips in giving chase and the crowd are loving it as England take a single. England then almost throw it away with confusion over a single, Flintoff sending Jones back and the wicketkeeper is short of his ground as Hayden's throw whistles past the non-striker's stumps. Flintoff finishes with a four and Ponting has a real problem in the run-up to lunch.

1214: Over 108 Flintoff and Jones work the ball around, keeping the scoreboard ticking without ever giving in to temptation and attempting a big shot off Warne. Runs come both sides of the wicket but there are no boundaries, Hodge making the best stop out on the square-leg rope.

1210: Over 107 The first ball is a typical loosener, dropped in short and Jones pulls away for a single. Flintoff hits the next ball to square leg too and Jones then pushes one to off. England do look comfortable while Australia look desperate, images cemented as Flintoff shovels another leg-stump ball through mid-wicket for four. The fifth ball of the over is a welcome dot, blocked by Flintoff, and the final ball sees a scrambled bye. An inauspicious start from Gillespie, and this partnership is now worth 72 in an hour with Flintoff 39* and Jones 34*.

1206: Jason Gillespie comes on for the misfiring Lee, a development unlikely to unduly unsettle Flintoff and Jones.

1206: Over 106 Flintoff continues to exhibit the control which will carry him from maverick to great Test batsman. Warne too is struggling with the conditions, and the batsman waits for the wide one before hitting away through off for two. He then takes another two to leg and a slog-sweep for four as the runs come at both ends. England's discipline in the first hour is now paying dividends, and they should use this to lay the foundations for a plus-500 score.

1202: Over 105 Lee offers a full toss wide of off to Flintoff and a mis-field at mid-off allows two on the drive. A better ball follows but Lee is obviously still struggling with the foothole as he feeds another, straighter full toss which allows a simple drive down the ground. Flintoff then takes a single to move to 25*. And Jones continues in some style, hitting through cover for two to bring up the 50 partnership. As with Trescothick and Vaughan yesterday, this is a partnership which has previously been of great benefit to England and is proving so again today. Jones further cements that impression with a big four through square-cover to finish the over and bring up the 400, surely hitting Lee out of the attack unless he can conquer these foothole doubts.

1158: Over 104 Jones takes a big stride forward to the first ball of the over and gets pad on ball before bat, Warne appeals for lbw but umpire Billy Bowden shakes his head. Jones blocks the next one to a huge ironic appeal from the crowd and then dances down the crease to hit over the top for four. A block and a mid-wicket flick for one puts Flintoff back on strike and the Lancastrian receives a full toss on the leg side, pushing away for one to keep the strike.

1153: Over 103 Lee swiftly discredits the adage that rain is always the fielders' friend, chucking down a full-toss loosener and Jones drives down the ground for four. The bowler spent a good couple of minutes filling footmarks with sawdust and clearly remains concerned as he follows the four-ball with a wild, wide bouncer. Jones then takes a single square of the wicket and Flintoff sees off the extra ball.

1148: The players return to the field with Flintoff and Jones knowing they have to start again from 17* and 15* respectively.

1144: Play will resume at 1150.

1132: Rain stopped play

1132: Over 102.3 Lee rushes through a bouncer on Flintoff first ball and the batsman tries to hook and is lucky to miss it altogether. A single to mid-on from the third ball is the last act before the players leave the field for rain.

1129: Michael Clarke is reportedly still at the Australia team hotel after withdrawing in the second over of the match with a back problem yesterday. Brad Hodge continues to deputise.

1128: Over 102 Decent start from Warne despite the moist, new ball being hard to grip. He offers Jones a mixture of the slider and the spinner but the batsman plays them well.

1124: Warne comes on for McGrath as the rain begins to fall from the Manchester sky.

1124: Over 101 Lee starts his next over in typically uncompromising style, banging a bouncer over Flintoff and Gilchrist to permit a bye. With the exception on Bell's ill-advised hook England have played very well this morning, reigning in the urge to attack. Of course they are yet to add any significant runs so it is vital that they now build on this start, but Flintoff has offered the chance of 500 now.

1118: Over 100 Jones starts the next over in fine style, cutting McGrath away for two. He sees out another disappointing over from the 35-year-old.

1115: Over 99 No-ball problem continues to dog Lee, the game's outstanding bowler to date. Jones is denied a four square of the wicket by brilliant fielding but soon takes a single. Flintoff sees out the over, still keeping his discipline.

1110: Over 98 McGrath offers Flintoff a free four wide outside off, a sure sign that he is not firing on all cylinders. But the bowler replies well with a strong offside bouncer which the batsman bottom edges just past his stumps. The slower ball then deceives Flintoff but he sees off the over.

1106: Over 97 Lee treats Flintoff to two bouncers in his first three balls but the batsman ducks easily enough. The bowler enjoys the better of the remainder of the over, beating him down leg side and then rapping a no-ball onto the pads with reverse swing, albeit via an inside edge. Flintoff takes a single off the final ball of the over to keep the strike.

1102: Over 96 Flintoff remains watchful to McGrath, ducking a rare bouncer and only offering a shot when necessary. Another tight over from the 500-wicket veteran, but he lacks the menace of Lord's and cannot be 100% fit.

1056: Over 95 Jones continues to frustrate Lee, angling another four to third man though this shot was at least deliberate. Ricky Ponting plugs the gap with Justin Langer. Lee keeps pushing the short stuff into the batsman's body and Jones shows good discipline to resist the hook, one of his favourite shots, and see out the over.

1052: Over 94 McGrath, as he did yesterday, struggles for pace and rhythm while maintaining good accuracy. One loose ball is crashed through the covers for four by Flintoff, a wonderful statement of intent, and the batsman exhibits good judgement outside off stump to remain untouched for the remainder of the over.

1047: Over 93 Lee tries out Geraint Jones with some chin music but the wicketkeeper looks strangely calm for a man so out of his depth with the bat this summer. His patchy form is highlighted final ball of the over, a weak prod outside off catching a thick outside edge and missing the slips for four. Lee is unconcerned, it is a moral victory for the bowler and he knows that his early breakthrough is potentially vital. If they can keep taking wickets then they remain in this Test match.

1043: WICKET!
IR Bell c Gilchrist b Lee 59 Lee bangs the first of the over in short and Bell is tempted into a hook shot, the ball rises too quickly on him and catches a thin top edge before offering Gilchrist a routine take. The Warwickshire batsman's excellent innings comes to an end without any addition to his overnight total, the main disappointment will be the manner of his dismissal - poor discipline after the graft of yesterday.

1042: Over 92 Flintoff rather foolishly tries to drive his first ball from McGrath through cover and is lucky to get away with a mis-hit fielded by Damien Martyn. McGrath responds with a wide, full, slower ball which the batsman leaves alone, Flintoff digs out the straight one and leaves anything outside off alone to assure the bowler a second successive maiden.

1038: Over 91 Lee gets off to a strong start, beating the outside edge twice. But Flintoff picks the third early as short of a length and opens the face of the bat to steer the ball down to third man for four. A single off a thick inside edge puts Bell back on strike and the half-centurion receives the first ball over 90 mph this morning, ducking a bouncer with relative ease.

1034: Lee to resume at the Stretford End, enjoying first crack at Flintoff.

1034: Over 90 McGrath to Bell predictably ends as a maiden, the bowler rarely getting even up to 80 mph but putting every ball on the spot. One beats the outside edge but Bell, whose only weakness yesterday was to the New South Welshman's slower ball, looks relatively comfortable.

1029: Glenn McGrath to bowl the first over of the morning, switching to the Brian Statham End after Brett Lee's huge impact at the Stretford End last night.

1028: The players take the field.

1000: England resume this morning on 341 for five after Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Ian Bell yesterday put the hosts in charge of the third Test at Old Trafford.

Bell remains unbeaten on 59 and is joined at the crease by local favourite Andrew Flintoff, who has flattered to deceive on his home ground for England but has the momentum of his Edgbaston heroics as he seeks to guide the hosts to a score in excess of 500.

The first hour will prove crucial as Australia, bowling with an all-but-new ball, try to get at England's two remaining front-line batsmen.

They know that Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles are short of runs and early wickets could lead to a sub-450 score, but if Bell and Flintoff survive until the first drinks break then it could be another long day in the field.