By Peter May

Click here for Peter May's view from day three at Edgbaston

CLOSE: Australia, 2nd Innings 175 for eight, need another 107 runs to beat England

1833: WICKET!
MJ Clarke b Harmison Harmison almost gets Clarke with a violently rising bouncer into the body but the batsman's weak fend falls safely short of gully. Harmison is now into his stride after a mixed day and rattles Clarke on the thumb in a flurry of missiles. But he then shocks everybody and not least Clarke with a sublime slower ball, a leg cutter which knocks them all over to leave England in control overnight and two more balls to be bowled this over in the morning. Be sure to join us from 1000 for live updates on the climax to one of the all-time great Test matches.

1829: Over 43 Warne creams a rising ball through the covers for four. And there are more runs for Australia. The close is now coming at a good time for England, who have lost control of this pair.

1825: Over 42 Harmison starts with two slips and gives Warne a straight one. It is batted back to the bowler and he has a shy at the stumps with Warne hopelessly out of his ground but misses. The next ball gets a flick for four to fine leg and he finishes with two sharp shorter balls well avoided by Warne.

1822: Harmison returns to the attack as the tension edges up another couple of notches.

1818: Over 41 Flintoff starts with an inswinging yorker but Clarke picks it. The batsman squares the next ball to point on the bounce and then gets another two ankle-high full tosses as Flintoff struggles to find yorker-length. The batsman's complaints to Bowden are bizarre and met with a bouncer. Clarke plays inside the line and the two have a prolonged and heated exchange. The over ends with four byes as a fired-up Flintoff strays down leg and the two then get involved in more verbals. They are separated by the umpires.

1814: Over 40 Warne picks up the line of a good-length ball from Giles and sweep-slogs high into the square-leg stand. He repeats the trick and suddenly England have a new problem to deal with. Giles switches around the wicket but Warne continues to defend well.

1811: Over 39 Flintoff resumes at the Pavilion End but decides to try meeting Clarke around the wicket. He gets little joy and returns over, almost getting the prize scalp with an inswinging yorker which beats the bat but doesn't quite do enough to clip off.

1808: Over 38 Clarke remains happy to try and close on 282 even if it means exposing Warne and his confidence is justified as the spinner plays out another Giles over.

1805: Over 37 Again Warne is exposed by Clarke and he is very lucky to survive an lbw appeal after being pinned by a Flintoff yorker. A full toss allows some relief and two runs and the over finishes with a brush off the legs for two.

1800: England have been granted the extra 30 minutes. A minimum of eight further overs will be bowled.

1800: Over 36 Clarke allows Warne back on strike but he plays out Giles quite easily.

1755: Umpires Koertzen and Bowden discuss England's request for an extra 30 minutes which can be afforded in a match if a result looks imminent.

1752: Over 35 Flintoff almost traps Shane Warne first ball with an almost identical ball but he gets some bat on and turns it away leg. Clarke takes another single and the over ends with another big appeal but the ball has struck a squared-up Warne too high.

1751: WICKET!
JN Gillespie lbw b Flintoff 0 Night watchman Jason Gillespie lasts just two balls, pinned in front of the stumps by a spearing in-swinging yorker.

1750: Over 34 Giles has the prized wicket but Clarke remains and is playing beautifully. England need a jaffer to do for the star and then they can wrap this up.

1749: WICKET!
AC Gilchrist c Flintoff b Giles 1 Gilchrist looks shaky in getting off the mark, an inside edge off the pad loops past slip for a single. Clarke works the ball to leg to put the new man back in the firing line and he holes out to mid-on in attempting to hit over the top to a ball turning sharply out of the rough.

1745: Over 33 Maiden. Flintoff is back over the 90mph mark as he tries to get at Clarke but the young batsman looks in good nick and keeps Gilchrist away from his nemesis.

1740: Over 32 Gilchrist comes to the crease at the non-striker's end as Katich's dismissal was the last ball of the over.

1737: WICKET!
SM Katich c Trescothick b Giles Giles continues to give it some air from the City End but Katich is initially watchful and the running between the wickets excellent when the opportunity for a run arises. Yet the bowler sends a straight one on and the batsman goes back, edging to first slip where Trescothick holds at the second attempt.

1732: Over 31 Australia try to keep on the front foot as Clarke takes a cheeky quick single to Pietersen. Flintoff switches to around the wicket to Katich and he too is looking for a quick one but the England fielding is sharp. The run eventually comes through mid-wicket on ball four enabling to keep up Katich's near-100 strike rate. He has abandoned his usual measured style to great effect so far.

1729: Flintoff returns at the Pavilion End.

1727: Over 30 Katich bats a short, bouncy delivery away backwards of square on the off side and Hoggard's chase down the hill is in vain. Another boundary for Australia and a partnership which is looking dangerous.

1723: Over 29 Hoggard runs in with his usual game attitude but an inability to get any great reverse swing makes him a minimal impact player. Australia are obviously batting for the close now and it must be worth bringing back Flintoff and possibly Jones to try for another wicket.

1719: Over 28 Clarke attacks Giles with some fancy footwork but almost pays for his adventure later in the over as a big spinner rips past the outside edge. The number five is scoring at a fair pace, England need his wicket as soon as possible.

1714: Over 27 Simon Katich marks his arrival at the crease with a four through cover and plays out the over with some composure. Nevertheless, the advantage may just have swung back to the hosts with the fall of that wicket.

1709: WICKET!
DR Martyn c Bell b Hoggard 28 Hoggard strikes with his first ball back, tempting Martyn into a weak flick off the legs through mid-wicket and Bell scoops an excellent low catch to his left.

1709: Hoggard comes on for Jones.

1709: Over 26 Giles makes a negligible impact upon his return, getting milked for easy runs.

1704: Giles returns for the misfiring Harmison.

1703: Over 25 Martyn continues to show his magnificent touch in turning a Jones delivery down leg to bring up the 100. The Australian is a magnificently stylish cricketer once settled.

1658: Over 24 Harmison's poorest over yet, he gifts four byes down the leg side and sees Martyn and Clarke each claim a boundary.

1654: Over 23 Jones receives a talking-to for an overzealous celebration of Hayden's dismissal and finishes the over with a ball outside Michael Clarke's off stump.

1653: WICKET!
ML Hayden c Trescothick b SP Jones 31 Hayden drives Jones down the ground but he is not afraid to put the ball in the right area and makes an immediate impact, sending an away-swinger across the opener. He tempts a thick edge and Trescothick dives high to his left to take a magnificent catch at first slip.

1649: With the ball reverse-swinging, Jones enters the fray in place of Flintoff.

1648: Over 22 Harmison continues to make Australia work hard for their runs but still the menace is lacking. Vaughan needs an explosive couple of overs from the Geordie paceman.

1643: Over 21 Flintoff begins too wide to Hayden allowing the opener too many easy leaves outside off. But he finishes with a magnificent piece of reverse swing, beating the outside edge of Hayden's bat and offering renewed hope to England and particularly Simon Jones.

1638: Over 20 Hayden remains watchful to Harmison but denies him a maiden with two off the final ball of the over.

1635: Harmison returns in place of Jones at the City End.

1634: Over 19 Flintoff takes his hostility up a level, beating Martyn's bat and then finding an outside edge which falls short of Pietersen at gully. A rap on the pads adds to the impression that the bowler is on top but wickets remain the priority.

1629: Over 18 Jones still struggling to breach Hayden's defences. Hoggard offers some advice but the bowler looks unimpressed, especially as the following ball disappears through the covers. An elaborate leave on the final ball of the over leaves Australia on 68 for two.

1623: Over 17 Flintoff almost claims his third wicket by finding the outside edge of Martyn's bat but the ball gets through the slips for four. The bowler responds with an inswinger but the batsman shuffles across his stumps and turns round the corner for another four before stealing a single and the strike.

1619: Over 16 Jones still struggles to find his disciplined line to really hurt Martyn with his late swing. Australia now need 229 to win so the wickets have to keep tumbling if England are to stay in contention.

1615: Over 15 Martyn pushes a quick single to Harmison and forces a mistake from the fielder. Flintoff switches to around the wicket from Hayden. The Lancastrian is really hitting the deck now, tipping the speedo at 90 and not allowing the batsman to add to his score.

1611: Over 14 Jones broadly gets away with a mixed start in which two drift down leg but a couple of others look menacing. Hayden still hasn't played himself in yet is now carrying a great responsibility. Damien Martyn will therefore face his first ball from Flintoff.

1607: Simon Jones replaces Giles at the City End.

1605: Over 13 What an over from the England player who really can change matches. The crowd has woken up and everybody believes again.

1603: WICKET!
RT Ponting c GO Jones b Flintoff 0 Flintoff raps Ponting on the pads first ball but Bowden rightly rejects lbw claims as too high. He then nips one in from outside off and hits the pads again. The ball would hit middle but struck the pad outside the line. Not out. The final ball of the over whistles past the outside edge but is a no-ball giving Ponting another delivery to face. It is another snorter, hitting the deck, moving away, squaring up the batsman and catching the outside edge on the way past the straight defence of Ponting.

1559: WICKET!
JL Langer b Flintoff The hat-trick ball is batted back but Flintoff strikes at the second attempt. He rattles a ball through the form batsman's gate and onto the off stump via an inside edge.

1558: Flintoff is recalled to the attack in place of Harmison at the Pavilion End. Remember he begins on a hat-trick.

1557: Over 12 Langer takes an easy three to Pietersen out on the mid-wicket boundary. Giles has not bowled well enough this afternoon as this over goes for seven.

1553: Over 11 Harmison is bowling in the 86mph bracket, not quite hitting the straps. Langer and Hayden continue to work the ball around with the minimum of fuss and they're into the 40s.

1549: Over 10 Hayden milks Giles for two twos, one through cover and one to fine leg. Australia look comfortable on 37 and the spinner is providing neither wickets nor supression.

1545: Over 9 Harmison continues to be pre-occupied with a body-line rather than the off-stump line and Australia are happy to work the ball around for more runs. A bowling change must be coming.

1540: Over 8 Bell at short leg just fails to react quickly enough to an inside edge off the pad first ball. It can hardly be counted a missed opportunity but England need a break of some kind with Australia off to a flier. Langer and Hayden both look to take the attack to Giles with positive, front-foot stroke play and there are five runs from the over once Hayden has hammered Giles back over his head for four.

1536: Giles replaces Hoggard at the City End.

1535: Over 7 Langer has looked very much unsettled by Harmison until today but his judgement outside off is impeccable here. Hayden gets back on strike and continues to look out of touch, playing and missing the final ball of the over.

1531: Over 6 Hayden continues to look for a way out of his recent poor form but still his judgement looks suspect. Two runs from the over for the former world-record holder as Hoggard seeks the much-needed breakthrough.

1527: Over 5 Harmison steaming in from the Pavilion End. It's a maiden but he's struggling to find any pace and bounce to really unsettle this supremely confident Australia team.

1523: Over 4 Langer picks up the first ball of Hoggard's over with ease and hammers a four through cover. A follow-up finds the outside edge and runs away to the third-man boundary. The Yorkshire bowler is getting some swing with the new ball but this pitch has never proved overtly helpful to seamers and Langer in particular already looks well set.

1518: Over 3 Langer takes a single and Hayden follows suit. Harmison responds with a bouncer but the diminutive Langer picks it up early and hooks for four. Australia end the over on 11.

1514: Over 2 England begin with the same field which snared Hayden first thing on Friday morning. The bases are therefore loaded at mid-off and mid-on but Vaughan has not legislated for a thick outside edge down to third man for four. Australia are off the mark.

1510: Matthew Hoggard to partner Harmison from the City End.

1509: Over 1 Maiden to start from Harmison, who tempts Langer into one waft outside off and looks to finding good rhythm.

1505: Harmison to open for England at the Pavilion End.

1505: The players return to the field of play. Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden open for Australia who are seeking a target of 282.

1445: End of session
A magnificent innings from Andrew Flintoff gives England a fighting chance in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Batting through the pain after knocking his shoulder out of joint before lunch, the all-rounder made a beautifully paced early innings before unleashing a ferocious attack, hitting Brett Lee for one of the biggest sixes ever seen on this old ground.

Huge credit too to Shane Warne who carried the fight magnificently for six wickets in Glenn McGrath's absence, and the bookies still make Australia favourites.

The outcome may yet depend upon Flintoff, who will surely be limited in his bowling as England go in search of the 10 wickets which will square this series.

1445: England 2nd Innings 182 all out. Australia need 282 to win

1445: WICKET!
A Flintoff b Warne 73 A truly unforgettable innings is brought to an end as Flintoff charges, aims to hit through mid-wicket and misses.

1443: Over 50 Flintoff is swinging in search of more sixes. The first is a mis-hit and Jones is sent back. The second is a miss and the third another low drive. Flintoff takes the single to mid-off from ball four. Jones once again staggers to the end of the over.

1439: Over 49 Flintoff cannot do the same damage to Warne as Lee and plays out three dot balls before taking a single to square leg. The 50 partnership (off 40 balls!) is brought up and Jones has two to face. He blocks both solidly and Freddie gets another over at Lee.

1432: Over 48 Flintoff hits the first ball of the Lee over out of the ground and onto the Pavilion. The second is thrashed away square on the off and not even Clarke can prevent a four. Apparently unhappy with a boring four, Freddie ups the ante again on ball three with another six back down the ground and a single rotates the strike. Lee pins Jones with an absolutely perfect leg cutter and Bowden is 100% wrong to reject the appeals. Jones plays out the over and Ponting indulges in some quite outrageous dissent to the umpire, and not for the first time this summer.

1428: Over 47 Flintoff takes a single to Clarke at mid-on to offer Warne five chances at Jones. The first is wide of the left-hander's off stump and left alone, the second is picked and blocked, the third padded. Jones pads up to the fourth too and offers no stroke, and Warne appeals as the ball strikes two feet outside off. Koertzen appeals and Jones survives the over.

1422: Over 46 Flintoff hits two good shots for nothing and decides that clearing the rope is too much to ask. He takes a single and then grimaces as Jones swings wildly and misses. Flintoff trots down the track to issue and admonishment but that is quickly retracted following a four through the covers. Flintoff to face Warne.

1419: Lee is brought back in at the expense of Kasprowicz and Ponting sets a field with nine men on the boundary.

1418: Over 45 Play resumes after drinks with Flintoff reluctant to try and hit Warne. He is limited to leg-side play due to an incapacitated top hand and has also been relying on the pace of the ball to hit his boundaries. England take a single off the fourth ball and Jones plays out the over under stern stares from the bowler.

1409: Flintoff 50: 64 balls, 5 x 4s, 2 x 6s

1409: Over 46 Now running out of partners, Flintoff throws caution to the wind with a wild swing off the first ball and misses. He improves for the second, hitting it and it stays it over mid-wicket for six. The third ball is blocked and the fourth hammered into the Eric Hollies Stand to bring up a magnificent half century. There follows a single and then a four to Simon Jones for a wild swing outside off and an edge through vacant third slip. There are two more balls due previous no-balls and the target moves beyond 250.

1405: Over 45 Warne fails to exploit his hat-trick ball with a loose, wide one and Simon Jones then hits the final ball to the cover boundary.

1401: WICKET!
SJ Harmison c Ponting b Warne 0 Warne angles a full one onto middle and Harmison plants pad and bat together. The ball bounces up off both surfaces in that order and Ponting takes a sharp catch high with his right hand at silly point. Golden duck.

1359: WICKET!
AF Giles c Hayden b Warne 8 Warne finally gets his reward by tempting Giles into a wide prod, the outside edge is pouched low by Hayden at slip.

1353: Over 44 Flintoff plays the first ball of the over back where it came from and then drags a full ball to the mid-wicket boundary.

1352: Michael Kasprowicz enters the attack for the first time today.

1351: Over 43 Flintoff gets off to a positive start, taking a two and a single to edge the lead forward. Giles is less adventurous and blocks out.

1348: Over 42 Lee is beginning to get reverse swing now but Flintoff remains staunch in defence. A brilliant stop from Clarke on the third man boundary. Giles plays out the over.

1343: Over 41 Warne applies the pressure to Giles and like others before him the Warwickshire bowler is relying heavily on luck as the bowler comes around the wicket to exact massive turn. A single off the final ball takes the lead to 218.

1340: Over 40 Lee bounces Flintoff for starters and the batsman fends off to Gillespie at long leg for a single. Giles faces down his Lord's nemesis and plays a ball behind square for a single which becomes three with overthrows. Lee then tries Flintoff with a bouncer, recalling perhaps that he was hit by the Lancastrian yesterday when the roles were reversed. But Flintoff ducks with ease and tilts his helmet peak at the bowler with a smile.

1336: Over 39 Giles remains watchful to Warne but the injury to Flintoff leaves England in limbo. Neither player is capable of making big shots and so the hosts are simply batting time. Nothing inherently wrong with that, of course but the wickets must fall at some stage and they aren't adding enough runs.

1332: Over 38 Lee looks for bounce to unsettle Flintoff but offers up one full toss outside off. The ball would normally be despatched to the cover boundary but the dominant right hand turns the ball onto his own pads as the left hand continues to fail the batsman.

1328: Over 37 Giles gets away with one first ball, almost chipping a top edge to mid-wicket. But he keeps his nerve and gets off the mark with a single.

1324: Over 36 Flintoff rides his luck for two boundaries in the over. The first is a wild slash outside off and an edge to third man, the second an inside edge to fine leg. His left hand leaves the bat on both shots and it is clear that his movement is impaired.

1320: Over 35 Flintoff and Giles each deal acceptably with Warne as Australia spread the field wide to limit Freddie's big shots. It's a strange move since the all-rounder is surely incapable of any great aggression due to his injury.

1317: Warne continues from the City End.

1316: Over 34 That ball finishes a remarkable first over after lunch with Australia once again excelling at the start of a session and Ashley Giles arriving at the non-striker's end. Even a lead of 250 would be good news from here.

1315: WICKET!
GO Jones c Ponting b Lee 9 Lee starts with a wild, leg-side loosener and then allows Jones a cheap four down to third man. A quick single to cover then brings up 100 to a huge ironic cheer. A cumbersome Flintoff then drops his bat on the next ball to bring up the 200 lead but Jones is promptly out to the best ball of the day. Lee angles a fast ball into the corridor of uncertainty and it pitches just short of a length and keeps rising on the batsman who has to play a shot but can only deflect the ball to Ponting at second slip for a dolly.

1311: Lee returns as expected.

1310: The players return to the field with Flintoff batting on but no news on the shoulder injury.

1230: End of session
England, 2nd Innings 95 for six, lead Australia by 194 Never dare to dream against this Australia team, who are back on top after a devastating first session on day three.

If Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell were unlucky to be given out to dubious caught-behinds then there is no room for self-pity from Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, both of whom were victims of their own misjudgement.

So much now depends on Andrew Flintoff, who is not only England's best hope of adding the 100 extra runs probably needed but will also be expected to take wickets in the Australia second innings.

The Lancastrian appears to have dislocated his shoulder in cutting Shane Warne, who bowled non-stop this morning for two wickets, and we will bring you any news on that as and when.

It now looks as if Geraint Jones will have to shoulder the wicket-taking burden and that will not get any easier after lunch with a well-rested Brett Lee, who took three wickets early this morning, set to return.

1230: Over 33 Flintoff whips Warne past Katich for two and then hits a full toss to the mid-wicket boundary. It is a precise jab rather than a bludgeon, however, and England are relieved to see lunch.

1225: Over 32 Flintoff blocks Gillespie's straight, off-stump bowling in obvious pain. The over also features a couple of bouncers which test the batsman but he stays strong and even keeps the strike.

1221: Over 31 Jones continues England's policy of relying on a mixture of luck and judgement against Warne and is denied a run by Langer's brilliant stop on the final ball of the over.

1218: Over 30 Flintoff works a single through mid-wicket early in the over and gets some respite at the non-striker's end. Jones should surely bear the brunt at least until lunch when the physio can get a proper look at Flintoff but instead spoons a straight forward caught and bowled back to Gillespie only for the bowler to put it down. The wicketkeeper takes a single on the penultimate ball and Flintoff blocks out.

1214: Over 29 Gutsy performance from Flintoff sees out the over but he looks all but incapable of playing an attacking shot. This is shown when Warne drifts out a full toss last ball and Freddie can only take a single past cover.

1211: Flintoff elects to continue but looks less than comfortable.

1209: Play is stopped at Flintoff's request after he puts his shoulder out of joint attempting a square cut. Not the news England needed.

1206: Over 28 Flintoff gets off to a good start against Gillespie, hammering a four through mid-wicket and taking a single on the off side. Jones gets an unconvincing edge on his first ball but take a single wide of Hayden at gully. The opener has a shy, misses the striker's stumps and England take an overthrow. Flintoff is therefore left on strike for the latest Warne inquest.

1200: Over 27 Geraint Jones sees out the over. He and Flintoff have got England out of some holes during the last two years and will have to do so again here. The hosts need at least another 100 runs.

1200 WICKET!
IR Bell c Gilchrist b Warne 21 Flintoff looked shaky against Warne on Friday and hardly starts any better here. But a single through mid-on rotates the strike. Bell pads out a couple but then falls victim to a massive turner of the type which did for Strauss, nipping across the face and past the outside edge. The sound of bat hitting pad deceives the umpire however and Bell is given out.

1156: Over 26 Bell takes a single early to put Flintoff on strike and the new man also works a run to get off the mark. Bell, ever the 'traditional' Test batsman, is happy to leave three in a row outside off.

1152: Over 25 The removal of Pietersen, with Andrew Flintoff coming in, finishes the over.

1150: WICKET!
KP Pietersen c Gilchrist b Warne Pietersen plays with typical confidence to Warne, hitting against the spin through mid-wicket for two. He repeats the trick later in the over with no-one saving a single on the leg side but then goes after one down the leg side. The ball misses the glove, hits the pad and arm and ends in the gloves of Gilchrist. Umpire Koertzen is wrong to raise the finger but England have probably had the majority of poor decisions so far in the series and will have to get on with it.

1146: Over 24 Gillespie is running in gamely but nevertheless offers the impression that this is a respite from Lee. Bell bides his time and takes a single off the final ball of the over.

1142: Over 23 The first ball of the over bounces more than expected and Bell is a little early on the shot, chipping through the vacant mid-wicket for two. The next scoring opportunity is in the same area but he this time shoves the ball along the ground for one. Warne moves to around the wicket to Pietersen. The batsman initially tries an unwise sweep but then goes on the defensive with pads up. The effect of the roller has now been neutralised and the extra movement is making even England's number five uneasy.

1139: Over 22 Pietersen flicks the first ball off his legs and a fumble by Langer at backward square allows a cheap two. Gillespie soon finds his line and Pietersen is very straight and correct in blocking out.

1135: Jason Gillespie, who bowled two overs last night, enters the attack for the first time this morning as Lee takes a rest.

1130: Over 21 Warne begins with a rare leg-side full toss and Bell takes advantage for a four square of the wicket. He plays out the over, getting bat on ball without looking truly convincing. And the final ball is enough to unnerve England, landing well outside leg and ending in Gilchrist's gloves a fraction above off stump with Bell nowhere near. Drinks are taken with Bell on 15* and Pietersen 14*.

1126: Over 20 Lee is beginning to tire and allows Pietersen a cheap single off his legs. Bell gets a thick outside edge between gully and second slip but knew what he was doing with soft hands and in any case deserves a touch of luck. The boundary braces the batsman as he plays the next ball with great confidence through mid-wicket, picking up a short ball for three as Damien Martyn stops the boundary. Pietersen plays out the over.

1122: Over 19 Bell is not reading Warne particularly well and starting to far outside leg. There is a big appeal first up as bat brushes pad but little otherwise to report except the continued exertion of pressure.

1117: Over 18 Pietersen takes a foolish two to Clarke out on the cover boundary and Bell is struggling to get back to the non-striker's end, the New South Welshman's throw is simply extraordinary and misses the stumps by inches with the Warwickshire batsman out of his ground. The over otherwise passes without incident to leave Bell on strike.

1112: Over 17 Warne's first ball bewitches Pietersen but he survives and hits back with a huge six over mid-wicket. Two blocks follow before another huge strike into the mid-wicket stand. The crowd are lifted and the momentum has, if only slightly, changed after 12 from the over.

1108: Over 16 Lee is now really thundering in, starting with a bouncer which hits the batsman's leading shoulder. A widish off-stump ball offers a chance for runs but Pietersen plays well outside the line. An inauspicious start, though a single keeps the strike.

1104: Over 15 Bell is immediately put under pressure by Ponting with a short leg, slip and silly point. The captain himself is positioned in the latter role, doubtless affording plenty of chances for diverting discussion with the 23-year-old. But the batsman remains unfazed by the fielding or Gilchrist's over-exuberant reaction to every delivery and plays out a maiden.

1101: Over 14 Kevin Pietersen arrives to the fastest ball of the morning (91mph) and fails to deal with a leg-side bouncer. There is a definite sound and it skips through to Gilchrist, the Australian shout is huge but Billy Bowden rejects an appeal which is neither vindicated nor dismissed by multiple television replays.

1100: WICKET!
MJ Hoggard c Hayden b Lee Lee is predictably buoyed by his two wickets and really begins to find his rhythm. Ian Bell looks positive enough with good foot movement and gets off the mark through mid-wicket to the delight of his home crowd. But that exposes Hoggard and an usually casual shot from the night watchman feed Hayden a straightforward catch to gully.

1057: Over 13 Hoggard is the subject of two big lbw appeals but umpire Koertzen refuses both. Hoggard blocks the next three and the Eric Hollies Stand offers loud, ironic lbw appeals as well as a brief ditty highlighting the bowler's girth. Warne responds with a hand cupped to his ear and we wonder quite who judges that the tourists need another reason to get stuck into England.

1052: Over 12 Two wickets in the over from Australia and the face of the game changes again. Lee is generating good pace but hardly unplayable, they were two weak dismissals.

1050: WICKET!
MP Vaughan b Lee 0 Personal lessons with Duncan Fletcher have evidently done little for the England captain. He sees off the first ball but misjudges the second, playing above and inside the line to a fast off-cutter and seeing the top of his off stump rattled by leather.

1046: WICKET!
MA Trescothick c Gilchrist b Lee 21 Dreadful dismissal from the England vice captain, who waves the bat at wide and unremarkable ball and sends an outside edge into the wicketkeeper's gloves.

1044: Over 11 Warne gets his first look at Trescothick and starts with a man out on the mid-wicket boundary for a slog-sweep. The England opener immediately tries to hit in that direction, though on the ground, but gets it all wrong and is lucky to see a top edge fly past Matthew Hayden at slip for a single. Hoggard continues to look remarkably composed for a man incapable of hitting the ball off the square, getting solid bat on ball.

1040: Over 10 Trescothick shows faith in Hoggard by taking a quick single straight away. Hoggard is given three slips and a gully and promptly justifies Ponting's disrespect with a desperate waft outside off. He recovers his composure, however, and sees off the remainder of the over without incident. Lee failing, as he did on Thursday, to make the batsmen play enough shots.

1037: Over 9 Hoggard is ringed with a silly leg, a silly mid-off and a slip but shows characteristic stoicism, getting well forward and blocking each delivery with the minimum fuss.

1034: Warne is straight into the action from the City End.

1034: Over 8 Trescothick starts solidly, showing good judgement outside off stump as Lee generates good pace but little movement.

1030: Brett Lee to start from the Pavilion End.

1029: The players take the field under grey skies with the traditionally boisterous Saturday crowd already mostly arrived.

1000: England begin the day in charge of the second Test at Edgbaston.

They yesterday established a first-innings lead of 99 and set about adding to that, losing Andrew Strauss to Shane Warne last thing to close on 25 for one.

Marcus Trescothick will resume with night watchman Matthew Hoggard but all eyes will be on the veteran leg spinner who extracted such extraordinary turn on the first two days of this match.

Ricky Ponting's decision to field first has looked a mistake from ball one on Thursday, and it will certainly be a huge relief to Michael Vaughan that Australia's premier weapon will not have the chance to bowl last on a crusty, crumbling pitch.

Instead it will be up to Ashley Giles to spearhead any attempt to square the series but first the batsmen must set a defendable total, with a lead of 400 considered par by the bookies.

Make no mistake about it - Vaughan and co would take that now with 350 a perfectly respectable effort.