By Peter May

Click here for Peter May's view on day four

CLOSE: Australia, 2nd Innings 24 for 0, need 399 more runs to beat England

1831: Over 10 Giles is swept second ball by Hayden for one and Langer is back facing the brunt. Giles lets one gets away down leg and the batsman misses a sweep but GO Jones misses it too and it's four byes. Langer again twice offers no shot and survives two good appeals for lbw and that is the close.

1827: Over 9 Vaughan has a big lbw shout rejected as the ball hits Langer outside the line not offering a stroke, Bucknor rejects but it is a tough call. The next ball beats the outside edge, the next brushing bat and pad before rolling through the unfortunate GO Jones' legs. Langer then gets tucked up by one which flies off towards leg-gully and GO Jones can't get there. A menacing over from the skipper.

1825: Over 8 Langer is mostly watchful but sees one nice and big and pushes it through cover for four, taking a single off his legs from the penultimate ball. Hayden plays outside the line of the final ball, the ball flicking off the pad and wide of short leg.

1822: Over 7 Vaughan rushes through an over of offspin which frankly isn't doing much, though of course he is not bowling into the footholes like Giles and Warne. Oh, for a Michael Atherton or other part-time legspinner to put it into the danger zone. Langer takes a single off the final ball which is dropped in too short after stonewalling the previous five.

1819: Over 6 Giles has a slip, silly point and short leg as well as a shortish mid-wicket and raps Hayden on the pad with a straight one first up but there is too much bounce for an lbw appeal. The opener then moves down the crease in search of a drive, an ambitious if risky strategy. He continues to play forward to block out the over.

1814: Over 5 Vaughan begins with a slip and a silly point and Hayden takes a single to off. He almost spears Langer lbw as the batsman loses his balance trying to deal with a ball on leg stump and moves a short leg in. Two dot balls finish the over but it has to be said that the batsmen do not look terrified.

1810: Australian aversion to risk looks sure to be tested at the introduction of Michael Vaughan's offbreaks. The reasoning is that the England captain wants to keep the batsmen out these so, in fading light, is not taking any chances over losing overs.

1810: Over 4 Hayden takes the single from the fourth of the over and Langer bats out. No risks being taken here.

1806: Ashley Giles gets an early introduction to the attack, replacing Hoggard after just one over.

1805: Over 3 Harmison continues to bowl with excellent pace, up around 90mph. But the over is broken by conferences between Bucknor and Bowden to discuss the failing light. Hayden gets it away down to SP Jones at long leg for a single and Langer's judgement outside off is as impeccable as ever despite the light, letting the ball go. The over finishes with a nice moment as GO Jones takes an absolutely brilliant take high to his right from a bouncing off-cutter, he turns to the vocal Australian contingent and holds the ball up as a salute.

1801: Over 2 Hoggard begins with a no-ball and re-marks his run-up. Matthew Hayden promptly gets off the mark with a single and from the non-striker's end he makes enquires about the light reading. Billy Bowden assures the left-hander that the matter is in hand and urges Hoggard to continue but it is good news for Australia, a short, wide ball despatched to the point boundary. Hoggard's problems continue as he gets an unofficial warning for going onto the protected area. A dot ball finishes a poor over for the Yorkshireman.

1757: Matthew Hoggard to bowl from the Brian Statham End.

1757: Over 1 Harmison begins impressively, galloping in and sending a short, fast ball whistling past Justin Langer's helmet visor. There's more short stuff to come in a decent first over though the light is fading with a maximum of 33 minutes play remaining.

1751: Steve Harmison to bowl from the Stretford End.

1751: England's players take the field and enter their usual pre-session huddle.

1741: England, 2nd Innings 280 for six declared, lead Australia by 422.

1741: Over 62 Ashley Giles comes in on a pair to the non-striker's end and watches the inventive Jones hammer the ball over mid-wicket. He top edges the next one for four more over Gilchrist, plays and misses, and then lands another six over the mid-wicket rope. With that, Vaughan declares and Jones and Giles sprint to the pavilion.

1735: WICKET!
IR Bell c Katich b McGrath 65 Every shot is a big one - or an attempted big one - now and Bell holes out to McGrath, chipping down the throat of long-off Katich.

1734: Over 61 Bell takes one off the first ball and Jones continues to bat with invention, sweeping another for one. Bell's square cut is worth two after a fielding misjudgement by Lee and the Warwickshire batsman takes another to the same man.

1730: Over 60 Geraint Jones wastes no time in getting off the mark with a hard two to Hodge at deep, backward square. Another no-ball and another two to Martyn on the cover boundary. Same shot gives England two more. Jones is playing with some freedom given that almost 24 hours ago he was having a nightmare with his wicketkeeping gloves on. He reiterates the point with four through square leg to take the lead beyond the fabled 400 deficit.

1727: WICKET!
A Flintoff b McGrath 4 McGrath pitches one up full and straight and it is too good for a batsman yet to get settled, knocking over all three and further postponing England's surely imminent declaration.

1726: Over 59 Flintoff is pretty lucky to get a bye for a wild sweep off a very wide ball from Warne and Bell gets an earful from Warne after another defensive shot is less than convincing. Gilchrist fails to stop one going down leg and McGrath runs after the ball like an 85-year-old, failing to stop the boundary. Four byes makes a lead of 390.

1723: Over 58 Bell and Flintoff take singles off the first two balls and England take another one off the third. Bell is still riding his luck against McGrath, carving the ball over cover and short of extra cover for another fortuitous single. The 13th no-ball of the innings hands Flintoff another run and Bell can't add to the total off the final couple. Still 20 more for England to get for the psychologically significant 400 lead and an hour's play left today.

1720: Over 57 Ponting keeps Warne going for the 22nd successive over from the Brian Statham End. Two singles from the over but even in this situation there is nothing easy about facing Warne.

1715: Over 56 Another good over for England, four singles embroidered by a skied edge for four over Gilchrist from Bell. England lead by 376.

1711: Bell 50: 81 balls, 3 x 4s, 1 x 6

1711: Over 55 A single for Bell takes the Warwickshire batsman to a second 50 in the match. Flintoff then gets a thick edge on the ball and it shoots up off the pad to offer another half-chance to Gilchrist who can't quite get around in front of the stumps to take. He bats out the over but suddenly the wind is out of England's sails and the further 40 runs or so may take some getting.

1707: Over 54 Andrew Flintoff blocks out the first ball.

1705: WICKET!
KP Pietersen lbw b McGrath 0 Bell is initially on strike after crossing Strauss. He hooks high and lucky into space behind square for one. McGrath then comes around the wicket to Pietersen and deceives him first ball with a slower yorker pinning the batsman. The Midas touch has deserted England's number five.

1701: WICKET!
AJ Strauss c Martyn b McGrath 106 Strauss falls as a casualty of the greater cause, attempting a hit over mid-wicket with a ball rushing on but Martyn scoops the catch rushing in from the boundary.

1700: Over 53 Bell punches the second ball of the over through cover for one and Strauss then sweeps for two to fine leg. Australia's field is letting England take runs and then simply hoping that it will prove enough to prevent a declaration tonight but with the lead now up to 365 that looks doubtful.

1655: Strauss 100: 151 balls, 9 x 4s, 2 x 6s

1655: Over 52 McGrath continues his policy of bouncing the ball to keep it out of reach and Bucknor responds by giving a wide. Strauss manages to find fielders saving the single twice in a row - some feat with six men on the boundary - but eventually gets one away through mid-wicket for four to bring up his sixth Test hundred.

1652: Over 51 Warne continues around the wicket and drops the ball short on the leg side, Strauss picking it up early and clubbing over mid-wicket for six. One raps on the pads and pointless appeal later and Strauss takes another two behind square on the off before finishing with a single to keep the strike on 98*.

1647: Over 50 McGrath begins with long-on, long-off and three men on the leg-side boundary. Bell immediately runs a hard single to take the lead to 345 and Strauss clubs down the ground for an easier one. McGrath then feeds Bell successive short balls but the batsman can't get onto the new length and Gilchrist takes with ease behind the stumps.

1641: Over 49 Strauss takes an early single and Bell does little to improve the image of the streakiest 40-odd ever seen in Test cricket as he dances down and misses a legspinner only for Gilchrist to miss the stumping. The right-hander then takes one to mid-off and it is Strauss' turn to have Warne pulling out those bleach-blond locks as he inside edges an attempted slog-sweep just past off stump.

1637: Over 48 Strauss is aggressive from the first ball, driving to mid-off for a single. Bell trumps that with an indication that he can now read McGrath's slower ball, hitting way over mid-off for six. McGrath digs in the bouncer and Bell takes on the hook, landing it short of Hodge and taking a single as the substitute fielder collects on the bounce. McGrath then strays down leg side and Strauss flicks a hard-run two to fine leg to bring up the 100 partnership. Strauss continues after the bowler and gets another one to mid-wicket and Bell takes another chance with a wild swing which inside-edges just past off stump.

1630: Over 47 Bell pushes Warne through the off side for one off his first ball. Strauss is similarly undemonstrative and allows three dots before a single to fine leg. Bell blocks ahead of the drinks break.

1625: Over 46 Bell takes a three to McGrath behind square off his legs and the batsmen then trade a single apiece to keep things moving. Strauss 80*, Bell 37*, partnership 85*.

1620: Over 45 Strauss takes a single and Warne keeps Bell waiting with a lengthy shine of the ball. The crowd begin to jeer but the bowler is predictably unfazed. The over passes with the run rate slowed from the previous savaging of McGrath but the game situation is now largely at England's mercy. When is the declaration going to come? There are 36 overs remaining but with time to change around we have two hours' play left. England lead by 324.

1615: Over 44 Bell continues to ride his considerable luck, chinese chopping a single to move onto an improbable 28. Strauss keeps the scoreboard ticking and is on to 75 himself. Bell plays his best shot, the cover drive, to a full ball out on off and collects a four for his trouble. The next ball is better, straighter but gets the same treatment with a magnificent drive through extra cover for another boundary.

1611: Ricky Ponting has obviously got a well concealed palm pilot out in the middle as he takes our advice of a few moments ago and brings back McGrath for Gillespie.

1609: Over 43 Bell uses up his fourth and fifth lives of this poor innings, racing up the wicket to outside edge past Gilchrist and Hayden, avoiding a stumping and a catching chance in getting a four. Bell responds to Warne's theatrics with another unconvincing shot, hitting just over mid-on for four. The next ball is played more cleverly, steered square of the wicket on the off side for a single. Strauss taps a single to mid-off but is lectured by Bucknor in staying off the pitch if he adds any further runs to this score.

1605: Over 42 Another over, another Bell single. Gillespie continues to get movement off the pitch, a sign perhaps that he is finally improving. One the other hand, maybe not as Strauss hits over the ring of fielders for four through extra cover off a slower ball. A mis-field off a no-ball allows a single and moves Strauss to 72*, his highest score of the summer. Bell brings up the 150 with an off-side push for three, Strauss makes a single off another no-ball as Gillespie struggles with his warning about a protected zone and that is followed by another no-ball to Bell. Finally Gillespie gets his over finished but he's less than convincing and the refreshed McGrath can't be far from a return.

1600: Over 41 Another Strauss single puts Bell back on strike against Warne. The right-hander takes a single behind square to keep the strike but is on 11* off almost 50 balls. England must begin to up the tempo for an hour or so of heavier hitting.

1555: Over 40 Bell keeps his ambition level low, taking another early single. Strauss blocks a no-ball and the batsmen scramble another quick run to take the lead to 282. The final ball swings in to Bell, cutting him in half but missing the stumps. As in the first innings Bell is almost reticent to score, he has always had a measured approach but a never-ending procession of blocks suggests a lack of confidence.

1550: Over 39 Warne continues around the wicket to Bell and the batsman immediately works a single through mid-wicket for one. Strauss then receives the biggest turner of the day, a ball which pitches 18 inches outside off and misses leg by a similar margin. The opener is unfazed and promptly chips over Katich at short leg for two.

1547: Over 38 Ponting blocks the cover boundary for Strauss and it promptly saves two runs as Strauss hits to Langer and takes an extra run for the fumble. Gillespie is warned about stepping on the protected area but actually improves subsequently, beating the outside edge twice and having a good ball blocked.

1540: Over 37 Warne begins around the wicket to Bell, positioning Katich at silly point and Hayden at widish slip. But the result is that Bell has no incentive - except the lure of runs - to play a shot and simply pads up to every ball.

1535: Over 36 Solid start from Gillespie whose bowling has been poor but batting earlier excellent. He still isn't doing enough with the ball, however, and as soon as one ball strays wide Strauss cuts square of the wicket for four.

1529: The players return to the field with today's earlier poor weather apparently passed. Gillespie will start from the Stretford End with Strauss on strike.

1513: End of session

England, 2nd Innings 128 for two, lead Australia by 270 runs Another decent session for the batting side sets up an explosive first hour after tea.

Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell will re-emerge with instructions to take the attack to Australia with Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones to come.

England will hope to add at least another 100 runs and probably more before declaring and having a go at the Australian top order tonight.

1513: Strauss 50: 89 balls, 5 x 4s, 1 x 6

1513: Over 35 Warne crowds the bat the last over before tea and pays for it immediately as Strauss sweeps over mid-wicket for four and his half century. The next is a big turner and hits the pad, the batsman responds by dancing down the pitch to make a full ball a full toss and club through leg for four. Strauss and Bell see the session out without any further fireworks.

1509: Over 34 Strauss shapes to hook the first ball and pulls out late to tap through mid-wicket for one. Bell then keeps up his needless attempts to try and hook the fast bouncer and is very lucky not to be caught from a top edge which lands safe in the mid-wicket area. Lee is getting frustrated and a good response is a no-ball as Strauss takes another single to the brink of his 50. Bell plays out the over to remain on 8*.

1505: Over 33 Warne maintains the upper hand on Bell, spinning the ball in from outside leg and turning the batsman inside out. But the England number four is a tough character and keeps plugging away, scrambling to the end of another over.

1501: Over 32 England's lead goes through 250 as Strauss takes the fight to Lee. The shot of the over is a wonderful back-foot hook over square leg for six and the opener is just a boundary away from his first Ashes half century.

1455: Over 31 Bell does not seem to have benefited greatly from his first-innings score as he continues to play Warne indecisively. He gets bat on a couple but is also lucky to survive one that nearly gets around his legs and onto the stumps.

1450: Over 30 Lee begins with a bouncer and understandably so as Bell inexplicably tries to hook again, pulling out at the last minute and just dodging the ball. A single down to third man takes rotates the strike, perhaps the new man has come with instructions to push the run rate along since the judgement so far has been very poor. Strauss, with Bell the least attacking of England's top seven, sees out the over in no obvious rush.

1445: Over 29 Strauss begins with an unconvincing pad to leg slip but then works a single. Bell does not let Warne settle into his sledging with a quick run himself and Strauss finishes the over with some decisive footwork outside off to block with the front leg.

1442: Over 28 Lee tests out Bell with an early bouncer and the Warwickshire batsman shows little sign of a learning curve, shaping to hook and then shovelling over point at the last minute. Strauss is therefore back on strike and continues to deal with the shorter stuff with confidence, taking another one which puts Bell back on strike for the over. He inexplicably tries to hook again, misses completely and the ball hits the batsman's stomach before brushing the leg stump. To Lee and Warne's consternation the bails stay on and the batsman survives.

1438: Over 27 Bell defends a big turner first ball, apparently unfazed by a ring of close catchers. A single through cover then brings up the 100 and Strauss continues his policy of stepping well outside off. Warne makes on lbw appeal which is routinely objected and the bowler reacts by turning his mouth into a perfect O, an affectation vaguely reminiscent of the late Kenneth Williams. The left-hander is obviously improving against the spinner, and that has been noted by a bowler who is as sharp in mind as in deed.

1434: Over 26 Ian Bell comes to the crease as England resist the temptation to introduce Kevin Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff. That has to be the right decision, both in backing Bell to do the job required and avoiding going too early since the lead is now only 240, some way short of the desired deficit. The Warwickshire batsman is initially off strike as Strauss and Vaughan had crossed but is soon on strike after a single from the left-hander. Bell flicks one off his legs to get off the mark and face Warne. The light is offered in spitting rain but the batsmen inevitably reject - the home team want all the time they can get.

1432: WICKET!
MP Vaughan c sub (Hodge) b Lee 14 Vaughan attempts to pull a good-length ball off the front foot over backward square leg but Hodge belies his short, rounded frame to canter around from mid-wicket and take an excellent catch.

1429: Lee returns for McGrath at the Stretford End as Ponting resists the gamble of recalling Gillespie. He may be saved by the rain, which is beginning to fall.

1429: Over 25 Warne continues around the wicket to Strauss, landing the ball in the rough outside off but not perhaps extracting as much turn as we'd expected. The batsman is initially under pressure but works the ball through Katich at short leg for a single and Warne is heard to offer the advice "don't get too far across Straussy." England, as always, are best advised to ignore the wily spinner who has been largely negated by Strauss' judgement outside off so far.

1424: Over 24 Despite his removal of Trescothick this does not look like being McGrath's Test. A shorter, leg-side ball is thrashed through mid-wicket by Strauss and another single takes the opener to 31. Vaughan drops the bat for a single wide of the slips but Warne makes a quick stop and throw to send the England captain scurrying back.

1420: Over 23 The skies are rather taking on the look which inspired local comedian Peter Kay's "weather which can't make up its mind" routine. There is sun on Warne's face as he bowls four dots to Strauss, concedes a single and is then blocked by Vaughan. But there are dark clouds gathering on the horizon and we must hope they pass us by or morning forecasts of no rain will be proven incorrect.

1412: Over 22 McGrath's expression says a thousand words early in the last over before drinks but here goes: Vaughan chips high over the cordon down to third man and the batsman jog a single only to see Gillespie let the ball slip through his fingers for four, deep breaths and closed eyes are the order of the day from the bowler. Vaughan drives the next ball straight and Damien Martyn races to cover but can't prevent a single. Strauss immediately rotates strike again and Vaughan plays out the final ball. Drinks are taken.

1408: Over 21 Strauss pads up to the first ball and pushes away the second for one. Vaughan almost gets out to a poor drive, chipping towards mid-off but despite Hodge's best efforts the ball falls just short and is caught on the bounce. Pleasing honesty from the substitute fielder, though Warne looks less impressed.

1404: Over 20 McGrath continues around the wicket to Strauss but a leg-stump yorker is flicked through mid-wicket on the half-volley for three. Vaughan continues to defend with great judgement and obvious confidence on the back of his 166, pushing a hard two on the off to finish the over. England's approach since lunch has been markedly more aggressive, it is clear the batting team are working to a plan.

1402: Over 19 Strauss continues the England strategy of trying to get further forward to Warne and he looks solid against the spinner, taking a single on the off side to move to 19. The silly point has now been removed for an extra man on the boundary as Australia look to stem the flow of runs being added to a lead of 214. Katich then switches from short leg to silly point but Vaughan blocks out.

1358: Over 18 McGrath changes his approach to Strauss, coming around the wicket so that his stock ball is (to a left-hander) a classic leg-cutter. Difficult to play, and Strauss proves as much with a couple of plays-and-misses but then gets off the strike with a single. The bowler remains over the wicket to Vaughan and almost gets him after tempting a big swing away from the body outside off, a dreadful shot which could have yielded an edge and wouldn't have kept out the off-cutter.

1353: Over 17 Vaughan gets a good look at Warne at the start of the over and then hits the final ball through mid-wicket, against the spin, for a beautifully timed four.

1348: Over 16 McGrath gives Michael Vaughan a decent going over for the remainder of his over and the England captain have to be watchful to keep out a ball which is beginning to swing. He takes a single off the final ball to get off the mark and keep the strike.

1343: WICKET!
ME Trescothick b McGrath 41 Some overdue good fortune for McGrath but harsh on Trescothick as an aggressive forward defensive hits the ball down into the ground but momentum and spin carries it back onto off-stump to end the partnership played-on.

1340: McGrath comes straight back on at the Stretford End in place of Lee.

1340: Over 15 Trescothick makes a statement of intent first ball by clubbing the legspinner through the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket for four. Two blocks follow and then the less, ahem, appealing side of this Australia team comes to the fore as Trescothick pads to silly point Ponting and the bowler screams for caught bat-pad with a ludicrous and almost never-ending shout. Bucknor shakes his head and the crowd offer a rather stronger opinion. Trescothick plays out the over.

1336: Warne returns at the expense of McGrath at the Brian Statham End.

1335: Over 14 Lee's frustration grows as England continue to build the runs. A no-ball and a run gets Strauss off strike and then Trescothick cuts away to third man for four to move to 35*. He takes another run and Strauss blocks out. Ponting will have to consider a change here.

1331: Over 13 Trescothick brings up the 50 with a stylish flick of his legs for four through mid-wicket. McGrath responds with one that whistles past the outside edge but Bucknor signals no-ball. The rest of the over is made up of dot balls in the scorebook, but England will be happy with that.

1326: Over 12 Lee pursues his policy of short stuff but the lunch break has done Strauss good and he faces the pressure with greater assurance. One wide ball is cut for four and the rest seen off comfortably as England's lead extends to 189.

1322: Over 11 Hodge responds to the crowd's earlier jeers with a brilliant block to deny Trescothick a single but a nice shot backward of square on the off does yield a run as England close on a 50 partnership.

1318: Over 10 Lee starts the session with a short, wide one and Trescothick punishes him with a wonderful cover drive. A bouncer is the Somerset opener's reward but he responds with a four through mid-wicket and a stolen single after Hodge fumbles in front of square on the off side. Strauss ducks two short ones to finish the over, no question where the Aussies think he is vulnerable.

1314: Lee to continue from the Stretford End.

1314: Over 9 A single for each batsmen off the opening deliveries gets England off to a good start but McGrath responds by hitting Strauss on the top of the pads. The Middlesex batsman is notably more comfortable against the lower bounce of the veteran and picks up another single, Trescothick's thick edge beating gully for another one to keep the strike. Positive restart for the batting side.

1310: The players return to the field and Strauss takes guard to McGrath, returning for Warne at the Brian Statham End.

1231: End of session

England, 2nd Innings, 26 for 0, lead Australia by 168 runs

A good morning for England, who are back on top in the third Test.

Simon Jones wrapped up the tail with three quick wickets to record career-best figures and then Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss made it to lunch with no wickets down.

The Middlesex left-hander has again been hit on the helmet and looks rattled but his partner has created a small piece of personal history by passing 5000 Test runs and is playing with great confidence.

Michael Vaughan's hope will be to bat until around an hour from the close and then declare, setting a winning total in excess of 400.

As always, Shane Warne is the main obstacle to those ambitions and he will be keen to make a point after holing out 10 short of a maiden Test ton and then failing to react to catch Strauss off the bowling of Brett Lee.

Even the sight of seeing Ashley Giles bowl to Jason Gillespie cannot dampen the excitement of this series which continues to offer the most exceptional tension and drama.

1231: Over 8 Lee tries Strauss with his a more crude form of variety than we have been used to from this keenly intelligent cricketer. He begins bouncer, slower ball, bouncer but Strauss is in little mood to hook and ducks, eventually getting off the strike with a single. Trescothick lets two past the outside edge to see England to lunch.

1227: Over 7 Warne begins over the wicket to the left-hander and moves the first two balls square. The first pitches outside off and is padded, the second lands on so misses leg by some distance. Simon Katich is in at short leg but the spin magician cannot weave a spell this time and Trescothick bats out the over with growing confidence, even taking two wide of mid-on off the final ball.

1224: Warne replaces McGrath at the Brian Statham End as Ponting turns to his best bet for a pre-lunch wicket.

1222: Over 6 Strauss continues to ride his luck, looking less than convincing to Lee and edging through first and second slip for four. There are renewed rumours this morning of a row between Warne and Ponting and this missed chance will do little to heal the rift, neither reacting quickly enough to take the ball at a good height. Lee responds with a flurry of bouncers and aggressive, Serena Williams-style grunts but gets no rewards and even sees the final ball of the over guided through the off side for four.

1217: Over 5 Trescothick is playing with good assurance here, a couple of decent scores have obviously re-asserted his confidence after such a poor start at Lord's. No prizes for guessing where McGrath is pitching the ball but the batsman is getting forward well to repel the attack.

1211: Over 4 Lee and McGrath's Meteor and Metronome label is being spectacularly illustrated here as the former continues with true hostility. After surviving some nasty short stuff, Trescothick gets one well pitched up and hits backward of square for four with his usual minimal footwork. Another three through cover finishes the over with a flourish and keeps the strike but Lee will not be too disheartened after a dangerous over of varied fast bowling.

1206: Over 3 Strauss almost falls very next ball, directing a thick outside edge only just short of Ricky Ponting at second slip. McGrath may be taking longer to find his line and length with the injury but he is finding it nonetheless, beating the outside edge of the rattled batsman who is happy simply to survive.

1202: Over 2 Lee rattled Strauss on the helmet in the first innings and bowled him soon after. We haven't seen the slower ball yet but there is no wait for the shorter ball, Strauss missing a hook and taking a 91mph bouncer full on the grill. Trescothick plays out the over and the physio rushes out to clean up the blood coming from Strauss' left ear as well as attaching a new visor to the helmet. Difficult to feel sympathy for the batsman, and not only because the exact same thing happened in the first innings. Whatever happened to the old-fashioned logic of getting well out of the way?

1158: Brett Lee to bowl from the Stretford End.

1157: Over 1 Trescothick takes a single to leg off the opening ball and Strauss reciprocates on the fourth delivery of the over as England get up and running. McGrath may still be struggling with his ankle injury as the old bite has been missing in Manchester this weekend.

1153: Glenn McGrath to open the bowling.

1152: England openers Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss head to the crease with this Test still fascinatingly poised. In an ideal world the home team will want to get to around 270 by 1730 this evening, thus setting a target in excess of 400 and allowing themselves an hour at the Aussies in pursuit of 10 wickets for victory. The main complication here is obviously Shane Warne, who will likely enter the attack early and still harbour hope of limiting the match-winning total to 300 rather than 400. Also entering Vaughan's calculations will be the question of offering Australia the possibility of victory in order to preclude a day of stout defence tomorrow. But this is not a dead Britannic Assurance Championship rubber between Derbyshire and Northants and our preference would be for the home team to bat the tourists out of the third Test if possible - Adam Gilchrist and co have in any case shown scant inclination towards defence and a hectic finish is almost assured tomorrow.

1142: Australia 1st innings 302 all out trail England by 142 runs

1142: WICKET!
JN Gillespie lbw b SP Jones Jones pitches a bit short on leg stump and Gillespie picks it up early, rocks back and lifts over mid-wicket with a brilliant six. Australia bring 300 up in style and not a great start with the new ball for England but Jones quickly makes amends with a fast off-cutter to hit the pads and coax the index finger from Bucknor. Jones finishes the innings with career-best 6-53.

1139: New ball taken.

1138: Over 84 Harmison is bowling a bit faster than in his earlier spell, getting right up around 90 mph, but there are few demons in the pitch and even against this archetypal number 10 and 11 it will take a very good ball to beat the bat.

1134: Harmison returns for Giles yet curiously the new ball is still not taken.

1131: Over 83 Jones cuts Gillespie in half with a wonderful, fast-rising delivery early in the over but can't find a way through his defences and onto the stumps. The runs have dried up since Warne's dismissal but every minute and run is precious to this Australia team, and neither of these batsmen is likely to suffer lapses in concentration. Drinks are taken.

1127: Over 82 Gillespie takes it up a level with a single through cover, comfortably the most exciting thing to have happened off Giles' bowling this morning. McGrath bats out the over. England still lead by 150 and should now wrap up this wicket quickly as that deficit will be enough to push on for a winning total. But both these batsmen have a Test 50, and both will punish any mental lapses from England.

1124: Over 81 Glenn McGrath plays out the over with his usual confidence. The crowd rises to applaud SP Jones' second 'Michelle' in Test cricket.

1122: WICKET
B Lee c Trescothick b SP Jones 1 The new ball is available but Vaughan declines to take before giving Jones a crack at reverse-swinging out the tail. And the England captain is proved right once again as the bowler moves one away from Lee, drawing a prod and outside edge with Marcus Trescothick taking a wonderful diving catch to his left at first slip. Five wickets for the likable Welsh paceman.

1118: Over 80 Giles to Gillespie is the least interesting of all possible duels in this Ashes series and continues to provide Ashes widows around the world with ammunition for their "cricket is boring" thesis. Six balls, and not a lot happens.

1114: Over 79 Jones almost picks his way through Lee's defences with a couple of quicker ones but of course Australia are in no rush today and the new batsman is happy to play out the over.

1110: Over 78 Typically understated start from Giles, who may not have too much time with the new ball due. We may be in for a quiet spell here as Gillespie is happy blocking away and Lee will need time to play himself in.

1106: Giles comes on for Harmison.

1105: Over 77 Brett Lee plays out the over with Jones' follow-through again attracting the attention of umpire Bucknor. The England seamer receives a second warning following a first on Friday, though Australia won't be complaining at Jones' willingness to rough up outside leg stump at the Brian Statham End.

1101: WICKET!
SK Warne c Giles b SP Jones 90 Jones' magic touch for wickets early in a spell continues. Warne crashes his first ball over extra cover for four but gets over-ambitious with the next delivery and hooks straight down the throat of Ashley Giles on the rope at deep square-leg. Warne will be livid for himself after throwing away a golden chance for a Test ton.

1101: Simon Jones enters the attack at the expense of Flintoff.

1100: Over 76 Warne is scoring at around a-run-a-ball after another early single, ad Gillespie is strong in the face of bouncer-yorker treatment from Harmison. Another single for the lank-haired seamer and Warne finishes the over with a single out to Pietersen on the cover boundary.

1055: Over 75 Warne continues his shuffle approach to Flintoff, chipping the first ball of the over into the leg-side space for a single. Gillespie's hard graft in the nets continues to pay off for Australia, England are getting a taste of what it would be like if Matthew Hoggard actually stuck around once in a while.

1050: Over 74 Harmison is still struggling for pace and rhythm, and inevitably looks an ordinary bowler as a result. The pitch remains true except out of the footholes, which obviously are an irrelevance to the fast bowler, and Gillespie looks comfortable enough defending off the back foot with a straight bat and high elbow after Warne had scored off the first of the over.

1045: Over 73 Gillespie continues to play like Geoff Boycott in his pomp, blocking straight and true despite Flintoff's rising speed. He takes a single to mid-on and Warne instantly rotates the strike from the subsequent no-ball, fending off behind square leg. Gillespie continues to work the ball wide of Bell for runs on the leg side, this time digging out a yorker for two. Another no-ball extends the over but the admirable Gillespie is unruffled. This partnership is now worth 75 with Gillespie contributing just 12.

1040: Over 72 Warne has evidently been working on his late cut in the nets this morning. Having taken two from Flintoff's over he is quickly off the mark against Harmison in that area too. Vaughan pushes junior batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Bell into silly point and short leg for Gillespie but a clever single to the vacant mid-on area keeps the scoreboard ticking. Harmison angles a faster one across the pitch and into the top of Warne's front pad but lbw appeals are hopeful at best with umpire Bowden rejecting on some combination of line and height.

1036: Steve Harmison to bowl from the Brian Statham End.

1035: Over 71 Flintoff begins with Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell in helmets on either side of the bat. Warne fends the second delivery down to third man and Flintoff soon finds Gillespie's outside edge but the ball falls short and wide of Trescothick at slip and a single is taken. Warne then pushes an off-cutter square of the wicket and point is too deep to stop another one. Gillespie plays typically straight to the final ball of the over, blocking out.

1029: The players take the field. Andrew Flintoff to bowl from the Stretford End with Warne on strike.

1000: England begin day four of the third Test at Old Trafford with plenty to do after Australia arrested their own slide yesterday.

Every minute lost to rain carried the game further away from the hosts, a problem expedited by the clean hitting of Shane Warne during the brief periods when play was possible.

The Manchester drizzle should not be a problem today with blue skies overhead and the groundstaff heeding the advice of the Beta Band in drying the rain.

Warne begins the day 22 shy of a maiden Test century with Jason Gillespie in tow, and the pair are looking to further reduce a first-innings deficit of 180.

Michael Vaughan should have a fresh battery of bowlers after using three men over just 14 overs yesterday, and he will know that early wickets are a must if England are to re-open the door to a positive result in this game.