By Peter May

Click here for Peter May's view on day two

CLOSE: Australia, 1st Innings 99 for five, trail England by 378 runs

1829: WICKET!
MJ Clarke lbw b Harmison 36 Clarke flashes again outside off and edges high over the slip cordon with Flintoff's fingertips failing to stop a ball bouncing with archetypal Harmison height. But the next ball surprises the batsman by cutting in to hit the top of the pads and allow Bucknor the easiest of lbw decisions. In accordance with the preposterous ICC regulations, England are forbidden from three balls at Adam Gilchrist and stumps are drawn.

1826: Over 30 Jones puts one right up there outside off and Clarke gets a thick-edged single down to third man for one. Katich drops the bat and chases a hard single. Jones again tempts Clarke outside off and the batsman plays a big off drive, watching the ball onto the bat and hitting out to the man in the boundary for one. Two half-hearted appeals of Katich bring an end to the over.

1822: Over 29 Katich is beginning to get his eye in now and drives the first ball of the over down the ground for four runs. The left-hander plays out the over to leave Clarke on strike to Jones with England lacking the spark that makes you believe a wicket is possible in the next eight minutes.

1818: Over 28 Jones is still doing plenty with the ball but the ill-disciplined line allows Katich off the hook with a cheap couple to leg. Clarke is 28*, Katich 15*.

1814: Over 27 Clarke flashes high and hard to the bowler's loosener and his courage is rewarded with a four down through gully. The bowler responds well and gets a bit of movement in either direction and there are no further runs from the over.

1810: Harmison comes back on for Flintoff.

1809: Over 26 Katich remains watchful to Jones as Australia keep an eye on the clock and the overs count. The Welshman takes a maiden but that Hoggard-inspired period when a wicket seemed likely every ball has now passed and the crowd are accordingly subdued.

1804: Over 25 Flintoff understandably decides to come around the wicket to Katich but the left-hander manages a single off the first ball after the break. Clarke pushes two to the vacant third man position and coming back over the wicket appears to throw off the bowler's rhythm as he offers Australia a couple of free runs through no-balls. Nine overs remaining tonight and Australia know they need two big partnerships from the current batsmen plus Gilchrist. A wicket before the close would be a huge bonus for England.

1757: Over 24 Very strong return from Jones, who is bowling to reverse-swing-averse Katich. The over passes without a really strong shout but the left-hander is patently less than comfortable and fell first ball after drinks to the Welshman earlier in the series. Funnily enough, it is a drinks break now.

1752: Simon Jones replaces Hoggard at the Radcliffe Road End.

1752: Over 23 No runs off the bat from Flintoff but there is a no-ball and the bowler undoubtedly lacks the menace of earlier in the series.

1749: Over 22 Katich gets off the mark with two runs to off and a four later in the over though Hoggard continues to move the ball in both directions.

1745: Over 21 Decent stuff from Flintoff who keeps Clarke to one two through mid-on but the Lancastrian is in the rare position of being overshadowed as the crowd bays for more from Hoggard.

1742: Over 20 Simon Katich comes to the crease and turns his second ball low to Bell's right and the short leg reacts well but cannot hold a very sharp chance. Hoggard beats the outside edge with the final ball and gets a standing ovation.

1738: WICKET!
JL Langer c Bell b Hoggard 27 Hoggard bowls the 10th over of his spell from the Radcliffe Road End and rewards his captain's confidence. He swings one into Langer's pads via the glove and Bell reacts smartly to scoop a good catch low to the ground.

1733: Over 19 Langer drives Flintoff into the ground and up over Pietersen's head, he catches but the crowd's habitual inability to discern between a catch and a bump-ball only raises false hopes. At least he caught it though. Flintoff reponds by digging one in just short of a length to hit the left-hander on the helmet, so perhaps there are some demons in this wicket after all.

1729: Over 18 Langer gets off strike early with a single and Hoggard finds Clarke's outside edge but it doesn't carry to Trescothick at first slip. There are no-balls problems for the Yorkshireman, who concedes six off the right-hander's bat including another stylish four driven down the ground.

1725: Over 17 Clarke begins by sizing up the hero of the hour but rather dampens the enthusiasm built up by five dot balls by guiding the sixth through mid-wicket for four.

1720: Flintoff replaces Jones in front of the Trent Bridge pavilion.

1718: Over 16 Hoggard continues from the Radcliffe Road End but has perhaps run his race this spell. There are six from the over including a streaky four backward of square on the off side.

1714: Over 15 Clarke again works a single and Langer hits for four behind square on the off side. Another one to Langer as Jones struggles to find that ability to take a wicket early after a break.

1710: Over 14 Clarke remains as positive as ever, finally getting a run with a single from the third delivery. Langer plays out the over and it must soon be time for Hoggard to make way for Flintoff.

1703: Over 13 Jones hits Langer with a lightening yorker but lbw appeals are rightly rejected as it was drifting down leg. A four through cover relieves the pressure but those are the only runs from the over and the drinks break is very much to the batsmen's relief.

1700: Over 12 Michael Clarke comes to the crease and almost falls first ball with a wild swing outside off stump, edging onto his pads. He then takes a four through mid-wicket and immediately looks like the fast, aggressive star of Lord's and Edgbaston rather than the injury-impaired shell of Old Trafford. Vaughan looks to close the gap with an unorthodox short mid-wicket.

1655: WICKET!
DR Martyn lbw b Hoggard 1 Martyn gets a poor decision for the second successive match as Hoggard jags one onto his stumps but clearly via the inside edge and Dar raises the finger to leave the crowd salivating and Australia reeling at 22 for three.

1654: Over 11 Damien Martyn comes to the crease and claims a single to keep the strike to Hoggard.

1649: WICKET!
RT Ponting lbw b SP Jones 1 Jones cuts his archetypal fast, skiddy ball into Ponting and it raps bat and pad at almost exactly the same time. Bucknor raises the finger and England celebrate as Ponting leaves the field rubbing his bat. Replays suggest it is a very good decision, however.

1647: Over 10 Ricky Ponting comes to the crease but is gifted a somewhat easy reception despite the crowd's best efforts. He flicks a single off his legs and Langer bats out the over.

1641: WICKET!
ML Hayden lbw b Hoggard 7 Hoggard pitches one on middle and off and brings it back onto the pads but Dar harshly rejects the appeals. He has little choice next ball as an even better ball lands on middle and straightens to rap the pads.

1641: Over 9 A decent over again from Jones but England are denied the fourth consecutive maiden off the final ball as Hayden pushes one to cover. The pitch simply isn't doing a great deal but England's attack do look more threatening than their Australian counterparts whether through skill, confidence or perception.

1637: Over 8 Hoggard is getting some swing now but struggling to find a consistent line. Ian Bell makes one good stop at short leg but Langer is also able to leave a couple on either side. It is, at least, a third consecutive maiden.

1633: Over 7 Jones gets straight into Hayden, swinging the ball back into the left-hander with vicious movement. He bisects the defences with one, raps another on the pads and beats the outside edge in a terrific first over.

1629: Simon Jones replaces the disappointing Harmison while Samit Patel comes on in place of Giles in the field.

1627: Over 6 Hoggard is brought face to face with Langer for the first time and claims a maiden including an lbw appeal owing more to hope than expectation.

1623: Over 5 Harmison gives away the second no-ball of the innings, England will be anxious that this doesn't become a malaise to match the tourists. Like Lee before him Harmison is offered little help by the pitch and Langer looks comfortable in the wait for the bad ball, sending it to third man for four once it arrives. A single off the final ball keeps the strike.

1618: Over 4 Hoggard is getting some good swing and giving Hayden the usual working over, offering up straight and outswinging deliveries with the occasional inswinger in search of a wicket. A short leg is employed without immediate reward but Hoggard and Vaughan make an impressive marriage of intellects and the big left-hander does look vulnerable.

1614: Over 3 Harmison gets a thick inside edge off Langer but the ball just misses the stumps and bounces through to leg gully. The next is wider and allows the square cut wide to Pietersen's right at cover for a boundary. More bounce from the big Geordie throughout the over but it still carries through very low to GO Jones. There is a no-ball and two to third man for Langer to take the score to 11 for 0.

1610: Over 2 Hoggard begins with a wide line and the batsman leaves the first alone before fetching the second to cover. His third of the over is hammered through cover for four but there is a marked improvement in the second half of the over as well as just the slightest hint of swing.

1606: Matthew Hoggard to bowl to Hayden from the Radcliffe Road End with the now trademark field including three catchers on the drive.

1605: Over 1 It's a lively piece of fast bowling from Harmison, who has a loud appeal for lbw turned down before rattling the ribs and sending one over the batsman's head. The final two are left alone but he does force the batsman to act more often than not.

1600: Steve Harmison to bowl at the Pavilion End.

1600: England take the field and enter the trademark huddle. Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden to bat for Australia with the former taking strike.

1540: End of session

England 1st Innings 477 all out

A disappointing collapse from England leaves a score of 477 feeling about par.

A sixth-wicket partnership of 177 between Andrew Flintoff, who made a first Ashes century, and Geraint Jones, eventually out for 85, established a very strong position at 418 for five but there was something disappointingly self-satisfied about the tail's collapse.

Despite unhelpful conditions and uncharacteristic waywardness, Australia legspinner Shane Warne still contrived to take four wickets at a touch over 25 apiece but the big highlight for the tourists was the lively contribution of Shaun Tait.

The intuitive impression is that this pitch is too slow for either team to take the wickets to win the match but the pressure is still on a visiting side who will not want to lose more than two wickets in the final session.

Matthew Hoggard had been tipped as the key bowler for England but perhaps Flintoff, buoyed by that century and boasting a golden arm this summer, will provide the biggest threat on a timid surface.

1540: WICKET!
MJ Hoggard c Gilchrist b Warne 10 Warne's quality, supplemented by cravings for nicotine and Jammy Dodgers, brings an end to the England innings with one that turns away and catches the outside edge with the wicketkeeper taking a good, low catch.

1539: Over 123 Hoggard really is a frightfully frustrating opponent. He keeps the shutters up for four balls, works a single and watches Jones block to take the tea delay beyond 30 minutes.

1534: Over 122 Hoggard begins the over in some style, cutting through backward point for four. A technically perfect off drive is stopped by the fieldsman but the batsman then rather gets ahead of himself in not offering a shot to a legspinner which looks set for the stumps. Bucknor declines appeals as it pitched just outside leg, Hoggard digs out the full one then takes a single through leg and Jones blocks out.

1531: Over 121 Jones' destructive phase is in abeyance with Lee proving too good to get near. He even hits the leg stump with one that ricochets through bat and pad but the bail stays in place against all scientific reasoning.

1526: Over 120 Hoggard continues in his vein as specialist irritant, blocking out an over from a man who is not only history's greatest legspinner but also enjoys his tea and cake more than most.

1523: Over 119 Hoggard is beaten for pace by two balls but then adds a single as England continue to frustrate Australia. Jones cannot pull another big boundary out of the locker and there is just one from the over, though any time in the middle is as much for psychological value now.

1518: Lee comes on for Kasprowicz.

1516: Over 118 Jones is happy to take the brunt of the spotlight again, playing straight to Warne and even hitting one over the top for four. The best is saved til last, however, as he receives a full, flat ball and fires a cover drive away to the boundary.

1512: Over 117 Hoggard flicks off his legs for one down to fine leg and gets an ironic cheer for his trouble. Kasprowicz feels the force of Jones' power with a perfect cover drive for four, he misses the next one and hits over mid-off for two. A highly fortunate toe-end wide of cover for a single keeps the powerful left-hander on strike.

1510: Tea has been delayed until the fall of the 10th wicket.

1510: Over 116 Simon Jones joins Hoggard and plays out the over without adding to the score.

1507: WICKET!
SJ Harmison st Gilchrist b Warne 2 Warne chucks one up, Harmsion swings, misses and falls over and Gilchrist removes the bails. A tame capitulation from England's tail here.

1506: Over 115 Kasprowicz resumes from the Radcliffe Road End with the rain starting to fall. Hoggard gets the ball off the square with a rare cover drive and they take two to Clarke, a misjudgement but a rare error from the fieldsman allows Harmison to make his ground at the non-striker's end.

1502: Over 114 Steve Harmison comes to the crease and gets off the mark by working the ball to leg. Hoggard bats with characteristic lack of ambition, surviving a bat-pad catch appeal to Katich.

1457: WICKET!
AF Giles lbw Warne 15 Giles tries to pre-meditated sweep a straight one and misses the ball hitting low on the pad to give Bucknor the most straightforward of lbw decisions.

1456: Over 113 Matthew Hoggard arrives at the crease and pushes out the over in typical fashion.

1453: WICKET!
GO Jones c & b Kasprowicz 85 A leg bye to Jones and a single to Giles take the total past 450. Jones falls short of a second Test century, trying to hit over the top but edging onto his pad and the ball loops up for a good c & b low to the bowler's right.

1449: Over 112 Warne begins beautifully, maybe his best over of the match. He mixes up the pace, direction and flight to Giles and beats the outside edge three times. Yet he gets no reward and has to watch the tailender swipe a four through the leg side off the final ball.

1444: Warne replaces Tait at the Pavilion End.

1444: Over 111 Jones takes himself into the 80 with a three to Kaspo's first ball. Giles then shocks us all with a boundary of his own, slashing hard to third man, and puts his partner back on strike with an easy single to point. Jones hammers the ball down the ground and is onto 85* before seeing to off-side shots stopped by solid fielding.

1439: Over 110 With no slip in place Jones is happy to throw the bat outside off and he takes a two and then a one down to Lee at third man. There is a slip on duty for Giles who plays out the over and has now scored off only two of his 25 deliveries.

1434: Over 109 Jones takes a run from the second ball of the new spell but Giles remains less than adventurous and plays out a further four dots to give Kasprowicz a gentle return to the front line.

1431: Kasprowicz takes over from Warne.

1430: Over 108 Tait's ability to produce such speed so effortlessly remains amazing, particularly given his fractured run-up. He pins Giles down for another maiden and this partnership is now worth 10 runs from five overs.

1426: Over 107 Giles' ambitions remain modest as he allows Warne five dot balls before denying him a maiden with a single from the final ball.

1422: Over 106 Jones is lucky to avoid dismissal first of the over, needlessly attempting a hook and top-edging over mid-wicket to safety for one. Giles has looked uncomfortable to Lee this year but appears ok to Tait when hitting a four square of the wicket. But the next beats the outside edge and the Warwickshire bowler, whose batting has been below par this summer, must now follow his partner's lead in conquering the demons to prove he can perform well against these opponents as against others.

1418: Over 105 For reasons best known to himself, Jones is determined to get down the pitch to Warne. He takes an early single, sees Giles get off the mark and then charges, misses and retreats to one with flight. A single is cut away off the final ball to keep the strike. Jones, 72*, should be aiming for a century in a total of 500 here and should not be in any rush.

1414: Over 104 Ashley Giles happily plays out a maiden over to Tait.

1410: WICKET!
A Flintoff lbw b Tait 102 Tait angles the ball into the right-hander and he swipes across the line, missing the ball and being struck on the pad. It is a close lbw call but Bucknor raises the finger. Drinks are taken.

1409: Over 103 Jones hits a first ball of the over through cover for four as Langer slips and misses the ball to the crowd's delight. That is the only score from the over but Warne's frustration is obvious and manifested in a stroppy throw at the stumps for no reason from a forward defensive.

1405: Over 102 Tait is finding some good accuracy here but there is still the odd loose ball and England take six from the over five, in byes and leg byes. Australia must try something different here - a partnership of 173 shows no sign of breaking except by a lapse from the batsmen.

1401: Flintoff 100: 121 balls, 14 x 4s, 1 x 6

1401: Over 101 Flintoff dispels the nerves to push a single through mid-wicket and bring up his century. The ground rises as one to salute the England all-rounder who has truly proved his nerve and ability this summer. Jones puts the centurion back on strike immediately and watches the rest of the over played out. Can these two now go on to bat England to safety with a total over 500?

1357: Over 100 Tait pursues his usual, bizarre style of thundering in, stopping and hurling it down. There is no slip now and Ponting must be considering brining himself back on. There is a hint of movement into the right-hander and Jones has to be watchful to an accurate over which is also a maiden and keeps Flintoff on strike against Warne.

1352: Over 99 Warne to bowl around the wicket. Flintoff plays and misses at the first one, a strong delivery which turns and bounces and wasn't there to be hit. The next one is tossed up well outside leg and missed again. Three in a row are on the spot and neutralised with the pad while the final ball very nearly sneaks through the gate. Maiden over.

1348: Over 98 Tait bangs his first ball in and Flintoff pulls away, the crowd goes up to salute the batsman but it is only a single. There is no respite for this Australian attack now as Tait drops one just short of a length and Jones slams it through the covers. It is the usual mixture of good, bad and indifferent from the bowler but there is no run added to leave Flintoff on strike and on the brink.

1345: Tait is brought back into the attack in place of Lee.

1344: Over 97 One milestone brought up, but not that hoped for by the crowd. Flintoff and Jones work Warne around for ones, twos and a three to reach 98* and 60* respectively while the total rolls around to 400.

1340: Over 96 Another profitable Lee over for Jones and England, a two on either side of the wicket keeping the scoreboard ticking.

1336: Over 95 Jones begins cautiously to Warne and waits for the bad ball, hammering one down the ground for four. A single to keep the strike brings up the 150 partnership to the obvious delight of both batsmen.

1332 Warne replaces Kasprowicz at the Radcliffe Road End.

1331: Jones 50: 93 balls, 4 x 4s

1331: Over 94 Flintoff takes another single off Lee's first ball, paddling a leg-side ball away to Clarke out on the boundary. Jones shows a few nerves but gets well behind a vicious offcutter and then scampers another off-side single to move to 49*. Flintoff too looks nervous as an offcutter catches the inside edge to hit his front pad, and he looks pleased to angle one wide of Hayden's left hand at gully for another single down to third man. Jones drops his bat on the next ball, the last of the over, to bring up his 50. Terrific innings from the wicketkeeper.

1326: Over 93 Flintoff begins to work off his lunch against Kasprowicz. He pulls for four to square leg and then through cover; plays out a dot before an extra cover drive off a no-ball makes it 13 from three balls. Ponting re-arranges his field to a batsman now on 91* but Flintoff uses his brain to push a single rather than take on the new man at short extra-cover.

1322: Over 92 England remain keen to get after Lee and Jones works a two through mid-wicket and one to cover. Flintoff responds immediately with a single of his own and two more for Jones takes him to 48*. He doesn't fancy taking on the last two, however, and will have to wait for his 50.

1318: Over 91 Jones blocks first up and then takes a single. Kasprowicz cannot find his line straight away and goes for four leg byes, is then worked down to fine leg for two and hit to the cover boundary for two more as Flintoff moves to 78*.

1314: Kasprowicz to continue.

1314: Over 90 Jones gets a let-off first ball, swinging wildly at an off-stump loosener and edging behind to Gilchrist but Bucknor shakes his head. The bowler's frustration grows as runs are scored off each of the subsequent five balls: first two singles, and then a four to third man, a two and a one to Jones.

1309: Lee to continue with Jones on strike.

1309: The players return to the field.

1230: End of session

England 1st Innings 344 for five England head to lunch in good spirits after a solid morning session's work defined by good batting judgement.

Kevin Pietersen's early departure to a brilliant outswinger from Brett Lee made the hosts vulnerable to a sub-300 score but Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones have put on an unbeaten 103 for the sixth wicket.

Flintoff in particular has impressed with his judgement outside off stump – even leaving the odd delivery on his way to 73* - while his partner's great strength in pacing an innings has been conspicuous in a chanceless 34*.

Australia have cut out the fielding errors and no-balls but cannot hide their lack of bowling bite on an unhelpful surface.

England's attack may also struggle on the evidence so far with the pace of Lee and Shaun Tait, swing of Michael Kasprowicz and spin of Shane Warne all neutralised this morning.

Could Ricky Ponting again be forced to turn to himself for a spell of penetrative mid-afternoon seam bowling?

1230: Over 89 Jones hammers another uncompromising square cut to backward point and Hayden makes a superb stop though the batsmen steal a single. Flintoff tries to hit wide of mid-off but Damien Martyn moves round well to collect low to his left and a straight bat sees out the over and the session.

1226: Over 88 Lee looks a different bowler from the Pavilion End, really finding a nice rhythm and sending the ball through at a lick. Jones appears to have learned the lesson of the previous over, leaving alone unless necessary before taking a single to leg off the inside edge. Flintoff too remains content to leave alone outside off to leave probably just one more over to survive before lunch.

1223: Play is held up due to movement behind the bowler's arm in the pavilion. Justin Langer fronts up negotiations in uncompromising style and convinces a couple of Nottinghamshire pensioners to stay still.

1223: Over 87 First Jones almost gets out, now Flintoff follows suit as Kasprowciz draws a leading edge to shortish cover and it falls marginally short of Ponting, diving forward in vain as he did to Pietersen at gully last night. A maiden on return from Kaspo, England need to hold their nerve.

1219: Kasprowicz comes on for Tait.

1218: Over 86 Single to Flintoff off the first ball and then Jones plays a weak, high defensive stroke outside off to Lee and is lucky not to get an outside edge. He rightly gives himself a talking-to and improves considerably with a much more decisive block to the following ball.

1213: Over 85 Jones and Flintoff trade singles and the 100 partnership comes up to delighted applause. It is a better over from Tait who is in any case a risky, wicket-ball bowling option but England do look settled. It is imperative for the hosts that they now lose their recent habit of losing wickets towards the end of a session since these two can add another 100 while the exposure of the tail now would leave even 400 looking a long way off.

1209: Over 84 Lee is looking good for his switch to the Pavilion End, exacting a little movement and no little bounce with the new ball. Jones plays out five dots and takes a single to keep the strike. It is dangerous to say the wicketkeeper ever looks set since he often gets out at this sort of time but we will risk it anyway: he has played with excellent judgement and plenty of style alongside his preferred partner this morning.

1205: Over 83 The real Freddie Flintoff stands up for the first time this morning after Jones cuts a single from the first ball. The England number six hits three boundaries in four balls, first to square leg then to mid-off and finally to mid-wicket. Thirteen from the over and Tait gets a valuable lesson in the cost of loose balls at this level.

1200: Over 82 Jones begins the over on strike but quickly works a single, this pair really excel at strike rotation. Flintoff looks increasingly comfortable to Lee, even leaving a couple alone before hitting the final ball of the over through mid-on for four.

1155: Lee is brought on for Warne.

1155: Over 81 The first ball is a predictable loosener and Jones rocks back before hitting to the cover boundary. The debutant begins to find his line and length as the over progresses and Jones cannot be tempted into trying to add to his score of 27*, a leg bye keeps him on strike.

1150: As expected, Shaun Tait comes on for Kasprowicz.

1150: Australia take the new ball.

1150: Flintoff 50: 69 balls, 7 x 4s, 1 x6

1150: Over 80 Warne now bowling with the fieldsmen spread to the four corners of Robin Hood's county. Flintoff is not for turning however and adds another one, Jones is ringed on the off as Warne tries to draw him onto the front foot but the wicketkeeper paddles to leg for a single. The batsmen exchange singles again and Warne switches around the wicket to the batsman on 48* but is punished when the smashes a slog-sweep for six.

1147: Over 79 England's discipline with the bat has been magnificent this morning. Flintoff again is happy to take a single rather than go for 50 with one big shot and Jones adds another two with his favoured square cut. More straight batting from the batsman wicketkeeper brings the over to an end and Tait's return with the new ball at the expense of the marginal Kasprowicz is surely inevitable.

1144: Over 78 Flintoff pushes the first down the ground for one and Ponting keeps Jones guessing by putting in close catchers on either side. He plays a full ball well, angled into the ground to deny slip Hayden the catching chance and then sweeps for two to bring up the 300. He picks Warne well, though is aided by a sleepy pitch, to see out the over and leave Flintoff on strike on 45*.

1140: Over 77 Jones begins in watchful mood to Kasprowicz and that strategy continues to pay dividends as England bring up the 50 partnership. The veteran bowler offers the inevitable no-ball mid-over and a poor, wide one is perfect fodder for the GO Jones square cut.

1136: Over 76 Two runs from Warne's first ball, pushed through cover with a straight bat. He blocks and then sees a rare bad 'un from Warne, a wide and short one hammered to the cover boundary. Reassuringly for England he refuses to get carried away by that shot, blocking the good stuff and waiting in vain for another bad ball in the over.

1130: Over 75 Flintoff takes a single on the off from the opening delivery and Jones then adds two to square leg. The wicketkeeper is showing the batsman's sense of timing for which he is selected here, pacing his innings nicely as another single keeps the score moving towards 300. Flintoff has a mild run-out scare in taking one off the final ball and Australia look like they're waiting for the new ball now. Drinks are taken.

1127: Over 74 Flintoff pushes a single off the first ball and Warne maintains his policy of setting a field to try and put Jones under greater pressure. The wicketkeeper sweeps a two and then takes a single to move to 13*. Flintoff, a streaky 32*, then adds another run to his score as he exploits the defensive field set in anticipation of the new ball in six overs. Jones gets away with a poor cut shot off the final ball, edging down into the ground and to Gilchrist.

1124: Over 73 Four from the over, a leg-bye and a two to Jones sandwiching a Flintoff single. Kasprowicz's lack of movement in the Nottingham conditions has been a great disappointment to neutrals and Australians alike, though the England batsmen have little to complain about.

1120: Over 72 Flintoff continues to show patience, though for how long remains unknown. He takes an easy single to the man on the cover boundary once he picks a high, bouncy ball and Jones shows continued assurance to Warne, even keeping the strike off the final delivery to nick the strike.

1116: Over 71 Kasprowicz begins with a couple of dots and then almost snares Flintoff leg side, drawing an edge which just beats Adam Gilchrist's left hand and races away to fine leg for four. There is only one slip to the seamer and Flintoff pushes another single to leg to keep the strike.

1112: Michael Kasprowicz replaces Lee from the Radcliffe Road End.

1112: Over 70 This remains an exercise in patience for England as Australia continue to offer runs in places rather than really crowding the bat. Flintoff is again limited to a single and Warne turns a couple away from Jones to keep him thinking.

1108: Michael Clarke, whose fielding lasted less than two overs at Old Trafford, has been replaced by Jason Gillespie. He looked back to his brilliant best at point yesterday, but may yet be troubled by that Manchester back injury.

1108: Over 69 Lee begins with a blistering bouncer over the head of Jones and the batsman looks grateful to scamper a single off an inside edge through the vacant short-leg position soon after. Flintoff takes a single himself, keeping the strike to Warne as Jones plays out a couple of dots.

1104: Over 68 Flintoff plays out four dot balls but is in no mood to sit back and wait for Warne to pick him up. He drives the legspinner back over his head for four but the mid-off and mid-on remain at the halfway point for the final ball as Ponting remains on the offensive.

1101: Over 67 Nervous times for England with their talisman looking vulnerable. He blocks the first but misses the second with a wild attempted cut. A single exposes Jones to the second half of the over and he plays out. The batsmen know that there is little in the pitch for Lee and that batting time together is now imperative.

1057: Over 66 Jones takes an early off-side single and Warne really moves one to Flintoff, suggesting he may yet be able to get something out of this pitch. The next delivery is too full though and sent to the cover rope to bring up the 250, Freddie takes his first single of the innings off the final ball of the over.

1053: Over 65 Geraint Jones leaves the first couple and then gets off the mark with a single edged over cover as he tries to paddle to leg. Flintoff takes a four in even less convincing fashion, thick-edging high over gully for four, and blocks the last delivery.

1047: WICKET!
KP Pietersen c Gilchrist b Lee 45 Pietersen falls first ball of the new over, playing forward to a fast, full ball on off and getting a clear edge behind to the wicketkeeper.

1047: Over 64 Pietersen begins the over on strike and Warne tweaks his field again, now bowling to a four-five with the two close catchers as before. The batsman, apparently uninterested in the various carrots on offer, sweeps to long leg for one. Flintoff then gets a straight one and it hits the pad first, inducing a huge cry from the bowler but Bucknor rightly divines that the ball is going down leg. The batsman plays out the over and Warne engages in his usual complaints.

1043: Over 63 Pietersen batted with rare circumspection yesterday but is clearly in the mood to return to type today. He leaves the first couple with deliberate theatrics, then picks up a wide, off-side ball and angles it behind square for four. The next ball is fuller and he tries to hammer this through cover but it gets onto him too quickly. A single off the final delievery moves England's number five to 44*.

1039: Over 62 As yesterday, Warne is bowling with a relatively defensive field, an open invitation to aggressive batsmen to score runs but take risks. Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden are in their usual positions at slip and short leg respectively with three saving one on either side and a man on the leg-side boundary. Pietersen begins with a brave and stylish drive blocked at cover; he takes a single later in the over. Katich moves to silly point for Flintoff and promptly pays the penalty as the Lancastrian hits a firm drive straight into the left-hander's leg at point-blank range. The England number six plays out the over with little turn from the master spinner.

1035: Shane Warne comes straight on at the Pavilion End.

1035: Over 61 Lee begins a good foot behind the crease to avoid no-ball problems but offers Pietersen a leg-side full toss, effortlessly flicked to the fine-leg boundary. The bowler begins to find his length and the batsman takes a single square of the wicket on the off side from the penultimate ball; Flintoff indulges in a rare leave to round off the over.

1030: Brett Lee to bowl from the Radcliffe Road End.

1029: Pietersen and Flintoff follow umpires Bucknor and Dar, and the Australian fieldsmen out onto the field on a bright, breezy day in Nottingham.

1000: England resume on 229 for four with a slight advantage over Australia but in the knowledge that they need a big partnership from resident batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.

Not only were Michael Vaughan's men looking at a total over 500 until mid-afternoon on day one, a good weather forecast over an excellent batting track leaves Australia with plenty of hope for a big score themselves later in the day.

For their part the tourists will first be concentrating on trying to get six wickets as soon as possible.

Two more dropped catches yesterday plus a staggering reliance on captain Ricky Ponting's medium pace meant that the overnight scoreline flattered the tourists but they have the chance to take control of the match today.

Two-wicket Shaun Tait has a chance to take a `five-for' on debut while Ponting will want more from no-ball specialists Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz after Shane Warne struggled to make the slightest impact on a flat, slow track.