By Peter May

Click here for Peter May's view on day four

Match Result: England 477 & 129 for seven beat Australia 218 & 387 by three wickets

1829: Over 31.5 Giles flicks the ball through mid-wicket and runs two to seal the latest chapter in what is surely becoming the greatest Test series there has ever been.

1828: Over 31.4 Brilliant slider a touch outside off bisects bat and pad but misses off stump by an inch.

1828: Over 31.3 Full toss, leg side and Giles hammers it through Katich's legs but the fielder gets a hand to block and prevent even one run.

1827: Over 31.2 Legspinner on off, Giles well forward and pushes to safety.

1826: Over 31.1 Giles whips a full ball off his legs and one bounce to leg gully. No run.

1825: Over 30.6 Hoggard flicks the full ball from leg stump to deep backward square and they run a hard two to Kasprowicz. 2 more runs to win

1824: Over 30.5 Fractionally short of a length, jagging in and hits the top of the bat before falling harmlessly square on the off side. No run.

1823: Over 30.4 Intended to be a yorker but comes out as a full toss, Hoggard picks it up and hammers through cover for four. 4 more runs to win

1822: Over 30.3 Fuller ball on off, guided behind square and stopped by gully.

1821: Over 30.2 Weaker bouncer, too wide though still 91mph and more easily left alone.

1821: Over 30.1 Straight bouncer, Hoggard looks less than convincing but ducks out the way at the last minute.

1820: Three wickets left, 8 more runs to win

1819: Over 29.6 The legspinner again from Warne but Giles picks it and pushes it away with another solid forward defensive.

1818: Over 29.5 Giles gets well forward again, putting the bat well forward and blocking a straight one.

1817: Over 29.4 Straight, full on off and blocked with a thick inside edge.

1816: Over 29.3 Giles meets the ball on the half volley on leg stump and pushes through mid-wicket for two. 8 more runs to win

1815: Over 29.2 Big legspinner, pitches on off, left alone.

1815: Over 29.1 Given flight, full on the off, pushed to mid-off by Giles, no run.

1814: Three wickets left, 10 more runs to win

1813: Over 28.6 Hoggard blocks out a straight, full and very fast delivery.

1812: Over 28.5 Full ball outside off left alone.

1812: Over 28.5 Another full, inswinging ball hits the pad and a no-ball is called. 10 more runs to win

1812: Over 28.4 Lee spears an inswinging yorker into Hoggard and it's the front boot, there's a huge appeal but Bucknor rightly sees it as going down leg.

1812: Over 28.3 Lee drops in the short ball but it's too wide on off and runs through to Gilchrist.

1811: Over 28.2 Hoggard picks up an off-stump ball well and uses the pace to push through cover for a hard-run two. 11 more runs to win

1810: Over 28.1 The batsmen crossed on the wicket ball so Hoggard is on strike to Lee. He gets a fast, inswinging ball and blocks.

1809: Three wickets left, 13 more runs to win

1808: Over 27.6 WICKET! GO Jones c Kasprowicz b Warne 3 Jones skips down the track and skies it straight down the throat of Kasprowicz deep on the drive. Dreadful shot, and suddenly England are in real trouble here.

1808: Over 27.5 Giles works a leg-stump ball against the spin for another one to mid-wicket. 13 to win

1807: Over 27.4 Slider, delivered flat and quick, is not picked by Giles and left alone but the ball just misses off stump.

1807: Over 27.3 Giles has really struggled to Warne this series but gets a good block on the first of the over.

1806: Over 27.2 A shorter, bouncier ball and Jones whips it through mid-wicket for a single. 14 more runs needed

1805: Over 27.1 Warne drifts one to middle and off, turns it away from the edge and the stumps for a dot ball. 15 more runs needed

1804: We will switch to ball-by-ball coverage to try and do full justice to this drama as England and Australia play out an extraordinary climax for the third consecutive Test.

1803: Over 27 Giles' first ball is a well-played yorker signalled a no-ball to the delight of the crowd. Giles pushes a two through mid-wicket and leaves a bouncer alone.

1758: WICKET!
A Flintoff b Lee 26 Jones pushes one to mid-off and Flintoff runs a very hard two to leg. But the all-rounder is then beaten for pace with a lightening inswinger which hits middle and off

1754: Lee's over is delayed for a long chat between Ponting and Warne and the latter wins the debate, moving to first slip for the new over.

1753: Over 26 Warne switches around the wicket and Flintoff's forward defensive almost plays straight on. The next shot is more convincing, worked through leg for one. Jones then blocks one and scampers a single behind square with Flintoff arriving Klinsmann-style at the striker's end but just makes his ground. A calculated gamble from Flintoff as he flicks in the air through mid-wicket for two more, Justin Langer sliding to stop the boundary.

1748: Over 25 Lee is hitting the 96mph mark and twice beats the outside edge of Geraint Jones' bat though there is still no slip. A no-ball reduces the arrears to 25 and Flintoff will face Warne.

1741: WICKET!
KP Pietersen c Gilchrist b Lee 23 Lee takes a wicket with his first ball, catching the outside edge as Pietersen again refuses to learn the lessons of Test cricket and takes a wild swipe. The last proper England batsman is on his way to the crease as the drinks arrive.

1741: Lee is recalled to replace Tait at the Radcliffe Road End.

1740: Over 24 Warne continues around the wicket and Pietersen starts trying to pad up but soon gets bored and can't resist the occasional swipe. He misses two sweeps and then slices a big-bouncing ball to safety on the off as he tries to hit against the spin. Very lucky for England and 26 more to win.

1735: Over 23 Tait continues despite our misgivings and Pietersen works a bouncer to backward square for a single. Flintoff is hit on the boot by an inswinging yorker but an appeal is turned down as the ball is doing too much and will miss leg, England take a leg bye and there's only 32 more to get now. An attempted yorker to Pietersen comes through as a full toss and is whipped through leg for four to bring up the 100 for the batting side. Pietersen then pushes a single to mid-on and Katich makes a direct hit but the batsman is well in his ground and keeps the strike.

1730: Over 22 Flintoff gets a full ball on leg and tries to hit it into Leicestershire but has to be happy with two after a mis-cue. The next one hits the pad prompting a big lbw shout but the batsman reclaims the momentum with a stride down the crease and big hit through mid-wicket. The ebb and flow of this session, day, match and series is simply incredible as the next ball beats the outside edge with Flintoff prodding. The batsman gets good defensive shots on the final two balls as the battle between these two teams becomes distilled into a battle between their greatest stars.

1725: Over 21 Flintoff gets another streaky run off the inside edge for one. Pietersen takes strike and flicks to fine leg Kasprowicz, running a very hard two. The next ball is too easy for Pietersen, fast and full on his legs and steered around the corner for four. The last two are both hit to mid-off for no run but Tait has still gone for 18 off three overs and Lee will surely have to return at the Radcliffe Road End.

1721: Over 20 Warne continues around the wicket to Pietersen and is trying plenty of mind games with a mixture of flight, speed and spin. So much about Warne is about psychology and as determined as Pietersen is the legspinner is obviously winning. He even pads a full toss outside leg at one stage but is still in.

1716: Over 19 Flintoff pushes a single and Pietersen works two to leg and there is a ripple of applause as the target dips below 50. More measured stuff from England's middle-order bash brothers but there is enough drama around as it is. Winning this Test match is like travelling with RyanAir: it doesn't matter how you get there, let's just get there.

1712: Over 18 Flintoff gets well forward to Warne's first ball and takes a calculated risk with an off-side drive, the ball wide of Clarke at cover for another four. The Lancastrian gets more defensive after that, blocking a couple and taking a single to a thick edged legspinner. Warne switches around the wicket to Pietersen and the batsman misses one, pads up to another and the pressure is off (relatively speaking) for another four minutes.

1707: Over 17 Tait gets good swing from his first ball, drawing an inside edge from Pietersen for a streaky single and Flintoff takes advantage of the strange absence of slips to take an edged four to third man. It is very difficult to see precisely what Ponting is trying to achieve with these fields and Warne's face suggests he's at a loss too. Another one to Flintoff and then Pietersen top-edges over Gilchrist's right hand to add another fortunate four to the score. The introduction of Tait was always likely to expedite a match result - even when he bowls well like this he still goes for runs since his stock ball is over 90mph. But there may yet be wickets in that strange, slingy action.

1702: Shaun Tait comes on for Lee at the Radcliffe Road End.

1702: Over 16 This is what Kevin Pietersen left South Africa for - the unique pressure of a finely poised Test match and this has the added sub-plots of facing the greatest spinner of all time (who also happens to be his mate) with the Ashes at stake. We know that he likes pressure after his colossal ODI displays in the last 12 months, but this can't be good for anyone's cardiac health. The right-hander tries to block one and has it roll all over his pads, bat and gloves but fall to safety. A single worked to leg means that England are more than halfway there and Flintoff plays out the over.

1656: Over 15 Andrew Flintoff arrives to a huge reception and gets off the mark with a thick edge over the vacant gully area for four. He has to dig out a beautiful yorker, faces a no-ball as the target dwindles further and then rolls his hands on a bouncer for one to square leg. Pietersen pushes the final ball down the ground to get off the mark and keep the strike to Warne. England need another 65.

1651: WICKET!
IR Bell c Kasprowicz b Lee 3 Lee delivers a brilliant bouncer on a bodyline but Bell does not need to hook, he does so anyway and lifts straight down the throat of fine leg running in from the boundary rope. Good grief, England need a hero now. Maybe there'll be one along in a minute.

1650: Over 14 Kevin Pietersen comes to the crease and plays out the over.

1648: WICKET!
AJ Strauss c Clarke b Warne 23 This really is Warne's environment, battling apparently impossible odds with nothing but skill and guile. He turns one from off to leg to the left-hander and the batsman flicks low to Clarke at leg slip, the fieldsman scooping the ball off the ground. The decision is turned to the third umpire to check it carried. No question it did, and Strauss is on his way.

1644: Over 13 Lee comes around the wicket and now has no orthodox slip at all with Warne pushed out to fourth/fifth area. Strauss tries to hook a short first ball but can't get it away and leaves the next alone. A cover drive is stopped for no addition to the score and then a really fast, full ball gets through the defences but just misses off stump. That frustration is manifested in another attempted yorker which comes out as a full toss and the left-hander takes a single to leg. Bell plays out the over and the drinks are called.

1638: Over 12 Slip, leg slip, silly point and short leg for Strauss but all four can only watch as he eases a boundary against the spin in front of square on the off side. The bowler responds well and gets a bat-pad which falls short of slip followed by a big turner played inches past Katich at short leg for one. Bell is typically modest in his ambition but gets solid bat on three in a row and England need only 73 more.

1634: Over 11 Lee tries Strauss with a slower ball early in the over but the left-hander picks it and pushes two through leg. The next one comes through at 93.6mph and Strauss tries a pull from waist-level, inside-edging past the stumps for two and into double figures. He ducks a bouncer and cuts over the vacant second/third slip area for four to third man. The final ball is full and straight and Strauss pushes three through cover to bring up the 50 and keep strike.

1628: Over 10 Strauss could touch any one of four fieldsmen on the nose with his bat, such is the attacking nature of Warne's field. But the left-hander works a single to off and Bell has a different field with gully taken out for a short mid-wicket. The first ball he faces is too good, drifting in and ripping away to beat the outside edge. Bell plays the last two with more conviction but can't add to the score.

1624: Over 9 Bell is on strike to Lee and plays very late on one early in the over, suggesting that he is not comfortable against the tourists' front-line amoury. He ducks a bouncer well enough and then digs out a fuller ball. Bell blocks again and then flicks two through square leg.

1620: Over 8 Bell blocks four and then flicks through mid-wicket for a single and the first run off Warne. It is vital that England keep the score moving, if only with the odd single, as these are their two slowest scorers and the batting side cannot afford to get mired down with Warne tying them in knots.

1615: WICKET!
MP Vaughan c Hayden b Warne 0 Warne drifts the ball across the right-hander and Vaughan tries to hit against the legspin through mid-wicket but gets a leading edge and is caught at slip.

1614: Over 7 Lee is bowling to only one slip despite exceeding 90mph more often than not. Ponting keeps himself in at silly mid-off and will hope that the bowling remains straight and full to tempt Strauss into a drive, a shot the tourists feel he does not play well. Two flicked off the legs gets this partnership moving and Strauss plays the over out with conservative shot selection, happily ducking a bouncer last ball.

1610: Over 6 Michael Vaughan comes to the crease and blocks out five balls to a predictable reaction from Adam Gilchrist and the cordon.

1606: WICKET! ME Trescothick c Ponting b Warne 27 Warne takes a wicket with his first delivery, Trescothick playing forward to push the ball straight to Ponting at silly point and the captain takes an excellent low catch.

1604: As predicted, Shane Warne is introduced for Kasprowicz.

1602: Over 5 Ponting gives Lee a stern talking to and then plagiarises the England field to Matthew Hayden. The captain himself stands at silly mid-off as Lee tries to feed Strauss a full, straight ball in the slot. The left-hander is equal to them and is able to scamper a leg-bye after being hit high on the pad by a shorter one. A no-ball takes the target to 100 precisely and a push through the off side for three takes it to single figures.

1558: Over 4 Kasprowicz may just have bowled his last over of Test cricket this summer. He bowls a soft long hop wide on off stump and Trescothick hammers away behind square for four. The England vice captain then takes three off his legs and Strauss gets a first run to off. A high, hard slash through cover takes Trescothick to 24* and the target is just 102 more. Twelve from the over and Shane Warne must be at the forefront of Ricky Ponting's calculations.

1554: Over 3 Trescothick is imperious from the first ball of the over, picking up a full ball and standing tall to hit back down the ground for four. He pushes the third ball of the over for a single to off and it is Strauss' turn but he still can't get off the mark, running two leg-byes and leaving two short balls well alone.

1549: Over 2 Trescothick gets a gift on his legs, pitched too short and flicked away to the boundary. The next is far better rising fast but cleverly angled through third man for three. Strauss is more measured in his approach and plays out the over.

1545: Michael Kasprowicz will open at the Pavilion End.

1544: Over 1 Very strong start from Lee, whose series figures do not really do justice to his contribution. He immediately puts Trescothick under pressure with a series of balls in the right area, angled across and moving a touch in either direction. The England vice captain gets off the mark with a flick to leg and Strauss is lucky to avoid a golden duck with an extravagant off drive to a fast, full ball which goes through the gate and just misses off.

1540: Brett Lee to bowl at the Radcliffe Road End.

1540: The players return to the field with Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss opening for England.

1522: End of session

Australia, 2nd Innings 387 all out. England need 129 to win

A good session from England wrestles backs control of the game after a tough start to the day.

Despite his consistent failures this summer, the wicket of Adam Gilchrist has always carried special currency for England and his dismissal by Matthew Hoggard provided great momentum for the afternoon.

Simon Katich was rightly furious after getting a nightmare of an lbw decision from Aleem Dar while tailenders Shane Warne and Brett Lee again battled manfully against imposing odds.

England will still need to be careful – their target is just one less than Australia failed to get at Headingley in 1981 – but are obviously heavy favourites to wrap up the fourth Test, and probably tonight.

1521: WICKET!
SW Tait b Harmison 4 Tait looks less than happy to Harmison and the bowler gets his reward after a full over of fun for the fans. The batsman fends the first one in the air just short of point (though that is Pietersen so he was quite safe) and then plays and misses at a bouncer with GO Jones taking the most brilliant take low to his left. Lee wanted a single there but his partner is not paying attention and there is a quick chat to clarify that. Tait then plays and misses twice, blocks once and gets speared by an inswinging yorker, ending a foot outside off.

1517: Over 123 Flintoff remains on top against Lee, firing a yorker which hits leg stump but the bail remains on - what is the matter with the npower timber this summer? Another is inside-edged for four to fine leg and these two new best friends share a trademark chuckle.

1513: Over 122 Lee is not afraid to swing the bat here but can't find the co-ordination which allowed him to make a first-innings 47. One high edge flies to third man for four and then there is a single. Vaughan calls in his six men from the boundary to set a six-man cordon but Tait places bat on ball to block. The next is a wicked bouncer, catching the outside edge of a startled Tait and flying out of Flintoff's reach. Tait survives two more and the over, though he may not be able to tell you quite how.

1509: Over 121 Flintoff and Lee have had a fine battle all summer, played in a competitive but fun-loving spirit. That continues here as the bowler beats the bat and then spears a yorker which Lee keeps out at a cost of his dignity, ending spreadeagled on the floor. A single then puts Tait on strike and Vaughan sets a five-man cordon without reward.

1505: Over 120 (bonus ball) The England players then protest and Harmison returns from fine leg to bowl the omitted ball, Tait pushing back.

1504: Over 120 Shaun Tait's first stroke is that of a true tailender, a vague waft to a full ball in the corridor of uncertainty. But he sees out the over, aided by umpire Aleem Dar's decision to call over after five balls. The West Indian has not impressed in the East Midlands this week.

1501: WICKET!
MS Kasprowicz c GO Jones b Harmison 19 Harmison saves Pietersen from embarrassment by getting the batsman for no further run, swinging a full ball away to catch the outside edge and fly through to the wicketkeeper.

1500: Over 119 Pietersen notches number six. Kasprowicz flicks over mid-wicket and the England batsman jumps and gets his fingertips to the ball but can't hold; the bowler's face suggests that a joke is a joke but there are limits and it really is time he took a first Test catch. They runs a single in the ensuing disappointment for the fourth and final run of the over.

1455: Flintoff comes back on for Giles at the Radcliffe Road End.

1455: Over 118 Harmison looks braced by that fortuitous Katich wicket, banging the ball in fast and hard just short of a length. Two mis-cues, Kasprowicz to backward point and Lee over mid-off both fall safe and lead ticks over to 110.

1451: Over 117 Four runs from the over, all in singles. Giles isn't really turning the ball so it is a question of drawing an error from the batsman as tea approaches.

1447: Over 116 Harmison begins beautifully, rapping Lee on the gloves with a bouncer. The next ball beats the outside edge and Lee shovels square on the off side for two after miraculously avoiding the fielders. A fast single brings up the 100 lead and Bell appears to hurt his shoulder in throwing in. Kasprowicz has toned down his initial aggression and happily ducks a too-short bouncer to finish the over.

1442: Over 115 Kasprowicz launches the first ball over mid-wicket for two and Harmison cannot get round from square leg. Vaughan switches the more mobile Pietersen to patrol and Giles has a bat-pad appeal turned down by Bucknor. The batsman then takes a single to leg and Lee follows suit to keep the strike.

1438: Over 114 Lee looks set for the Harmison bouncer but the Geordie keeps it pitched up and the batsman is fortunate to inside-edge between back leg and leg stump for a single to fine leg. Kasprowicz looks more comfortable and correct, getting onto the front foot and pushing through cover for two and the lead is into the 90s.

1434: Over 113 Vaughan crowds the bat and Kasprowicz is obviously hurt by the implication, hammering a four through cover. He then sweeps for one and Lee claims a single to keep the strike.

1430: WICKET!
SK Warne st GO Jones b Giles 45 Warne begins the over in uncompromising style, hitting the first ball into the mid-wicket stand and then taking two more to leg to move in on a half-century. But Giles out-thinks him with some extra flight, the batsman plays all round it and the wicketkeeper wins a small reprieve with a sharp piece of glovework.

1426: Over 112 Warne edges wide of the one slip for a single to third man and Lee is happy to play the role of straight man in blocking out Harmison.

1422: Over 111 Warne remains resolved to go after Giles, but cannot get the clean hitting of the pre-drinks break over and has to settle for a two and a single to keep the strike.

1416: Over 110 Harmison finds the outside edge of Lee's Kookaburra twice in the over and the batsman takes two boundaries over second slip Strauss.

1412: Over 109 Warne gives his fellow spinner a torrid introduction, hitting fours over mid-wicket and mid-on to take the lead to 65. He plays and misses the next and the over finishes in a flurry of drama: the balls hits Warne on the pad but a big lbw appeal is turned down, as most England players appeal, the batsmen scurry a single but Strauss picks up at point and misses off-stump with Lee out of his ground as GO Jones dislodges the bails with his glove. The wicketkeeper will be getting a few speculative looks over drinks but Bucknor should have given the lbw.

1408: Giles replaces Hoggard.

1408: Over 108 Brett Lee comes in and takes a big blast at an outswinger, edging between GO Jones and Trescothick and the wicketkeeper puts it down. Another bad miss, especially as his vice captain would have taken the catch.

1404: WICKET!
SM Katich lbw b Harmison 59 Harmison pitches one outside leg and it straightens up to hit Katich in front but over the knee roll. He is very unfortunate to see Aleem Dar's finger go up.

1400: Harmison replaces Flintoff and the Lancastrian immediately heads to the dressing room to be replaced by Thomas. If Gary Pratt's presence yesterday was justified then this surely is not.

1400: Over 107 Katich pulls Hoggard away for a single and Warne pushes one for himself to mid-off. The bowler switches around the wicket and then back again to Katich, keeping the score still but failing to trouble the half-centurion.

1354: Over 106 Flintoff begins the over with a bouncer but it sits up beautifully and Warne hooks away for four to bring up the 300. The next is fuller but the right-hander cuts square for another four. Flintoff mixes it up and tries a slower ball last up but Warne picks it, waits and takes the runs from the over to 12 through cover.

1351: Over 105 Hoggard keeps swinging the ball into Katich's front pad, looking for a repeat of the Gilchrist dismissal. The left-hander pushes it away for four and is then denied a boundary on the opposing side by the diving Strauss at point. A single exposes Warne to the day's form bowler. He blocks one and then chips a single just wide of short mid-wicket for a single.

1347: Over 104 Flintoff begins the new over with yet another no-ball but almost snares Katich soon after with an miscued hook which bottom-edges just past the stumps. Katich must have decided to step it up here since he then pushes a tight single to Pietersen at point and Warne is grateful that the throw is not a direct hit. Warne defends out the over.

1343: Over 103 Hoggard keeps putting it in the right areas, seeing Katich take a single and then tempting Warne with some varied swing bowling. Australia are just 32 ahead so need another couple of big partnerships yet.

1338: Over 102 Flintoff charges in with three slips and sees Warne rock back and angle a four over the cordon. The next shot is less than impressive, a lazy swipe outside off which draws a rueful smile from Flintoff. Third slip moves to fly slip and Warne continues to give hope with a high cut steered just wide of point for two. Pietersen makes a theatrical stop-and-roll at short cover to frustrate his club captain and the last ball of the over is a beauty which beats the outside edge.

1334: Katich 50: 160 balls, 3 x 4s

1334: Over 101 Katich hits the first ball of Hoggard's over to the fine-leg boundary and the visitors' balcony salute a fine half-century. There are no further runs in the over so Warne must face Flintoff.

1330: Over 100 Two no-balls from Flintoff and a run-out chance to point Penney whose attempt to hit Katich's non-striker's stumps misses by a distance. Forget Jonty Rhodes, this man was the best fielder in the world in the 90s - but should a 37-year-old be on the field for such chances now?

1325: Over 99 Shane Warne arrives at the crease and pats the last ball of the over back to the batsman.

1323: WICKET!
AC Gilchrist lbw b Hoggard 11 Hoggard gets one to pitch on middle and straighten beautifully, pinning the left-hander and Bucknor breaks his own PB for considering the appeal before raising the finger.

1318: Over 98 Just one from the over, Katich taking another off-side single and Gilchrist looks unsettled by Flintoff bowling around the wicket.

1314: Flintoff to continue from the Pavilion End, bowling around the wicket.

1314: Over 97 England's hopes are raised first ball as Katich slashes wide and hard, edging over deep point for two. A single moves Katich to 44* and Hoggard lets Glichrist off any pressure with a leg-stump ball carelessly flicked away for two.

1310: Hoggard to continue from the Radcliffe Road End with Katich on strike.

1308: The players return to the field.

1230: End of session

Australia, 2nd Innings 270 for five, lead England by 11 runs

Australia's session of course but the dismissal of Michael Clarke puts a spring back in England's step.

Clarke batted with supreme discipline for his half-century but an error of judgement leaves his team effectively 11 for five with so much now dependent on Adam Gilchrist.

The new batsman crashed two big fours but was also almost out to an Andrew Flintoff special and the hard-hitting left-hander's score will help dictate whether the tourists can set an imposing total over 200.

Shane Warne and Brett Lee pose a danger too of course while Simon Katich lunches on the brink of a half-century.

Michael Vaughan will continue his attempts to get the wickets without Simon Jones but the unhelpful conditions mean England still have a lot to do this afternoon.

1230: Over 96 There is only one over before lunch as Vaughan is constantly tinkering with his field, making Gilchrist wait as Flintoff switches around the wicket. There is a strung-out cordon of three slips and a gully but they can only watch as the left-hander hammers through cover for four. The next is picked up short on leg and hooked away for another four but the bowler responds with a brilliant lifter which beats the outside edge. The batsman's desire to dominate under all circumstances may yet be his undoing.

1222: Over 95 Gilchrist gets straight off the mark with one to leg and Katich blocks out the over. A nervous two overs for Australia now.

1220: WICKET!
MJ Clarke c GO Jones b Hoggard 56 Finally England break Clarke's temptation with a stock outswinger on off stump. The right-hander could leave alone but dangles the bat for a thin edge and GO Jones catches to bring Adam Gilchrist to the crease in the run-up to lunch.

1218: Over 94 The closest England have come to a wicket in an hour, Katich pushing to the leg side and setting for a run but Clarke rightly sends him back. The left-hander is out of his ground but Flintoff's pick-up and throw is rushed and the ball misses the stumps by a distance. No runs from the over but more frustration for England.

1214: Over 93 Two psychological boosts for Australia. Katich takes a single to level the scores, Clarke reciprocates and the left-hander pushes wide of point to bring up the 100 partnership off a mammoth 285 balls. Hoggard grimaces but England need more than a respectable Albert Steptoe impression right now. Four overs most likely to get in before lunch and the failure to take a wicket would truly leave the fielding side deflated.

1210: Over 92 Five dots and a single off the final ball keeps Flintoff at bay on his return to the front line. Tough times for England now.

1206: Flintoff comes on for Harmison for a quick blast before lunch.

1206: Over 91 Another maiden from Hoggard, though two leg-byes halves England's lead. The over finishes with one that pitches on off and jags across for a huge lbw shout but Bucknor sees enough doubt to dismiss the cries.

1202: Over 90 Penney seems to be getting more exposure than most on the rare occasions that the batsmen do offer a shot. Clarke takes a single to the substitute on the cover boundary and the deficit is now just four.

1158: Over 89 Katich continues to play with remarkable restraint, staying watchful to Hoggard's swing and allowing another maiden as the run-rate begins to drop to 1970s levels.

1153: Over 88 More decent, doughty stuff from Harmison but it simply isn't the kind of pitch to produce fireworks so England must keep plugging away. Katich works yet another single to cover and that is the only run of the over.

1149: Over 87 Clarke thick edges the second of the over to four at third man but Hoggard is finding a good line to test the batsmen's discipline. The right-hander leaves as many alone as possible but for how long?

1145: Over 86 Another maiden for Harmison, Katich happy to leave anything outside off and the bowler is still not putting the ball in that really threatening area short of a length on a bodyline.

1139: Over 85 Katich takes a single to cover off the first ball and Clarke maintains a strike rate at around half of his average by leaving four in a row and blocking the final delivery. No great movement for Hoggard either thus far.

1135: Hoggard, who recently returned to the field to prompt Vaughan to take the new ball, takes over at the Radcliffe Road End.

1135: Over 84 Harmison begins to Katich who works a single down to Penney at backward point. He then bowls to Clarke with two slips and two gullys but there is no movement and the right-hander cruises to the drinks break.

1130: England take the new ball and Harmison returns for Bell at the Pavilion End.

1130: Clarke 50: 136 balls, 5 x 4s

1130: Over 83 Strauss has taken over from Bell in the close-catching position. Katich works a single and Clarke finally brings up his 50 with a swipe through mid-wicket for two. Giles has another big lbw shout rightly dismissed by Bucknor.

1127: Over 82 Bell bowls another maiden to Clarke, who has been 48 not out since just after 1100.

1123: Over 81 Giles varies his pitch, flight and bounce but Katich is not an easy man to coax into a full shot and the left-hander plays out the maiden.

1121: Vaughan neglects to take the new ball with Hoggard leaving the field to be replaced by Glamorgan's Darren Thomas.

1120: Over 80 Katich takes a single early in Bell's over and Vaughan sets a six-three field to try and tempt a cheap slash from Clarke. He takes one wild swing, hitting into the ground and past leg stump, but is otherwise watchful. The new ball is now available.

1116: Over 79 Katich paddles around leg for single and Clarke plays out the rest of the Giles over, surviving one very optimistic lbw shout to one that pitches outside leg. Giles' insistence on bowling over to the right-hander has this obvious limitation so the bowler is hardly entitled to his look of injustice.

1113: Over 78 Bell has Trescothick in a wide position at thirdish slip and a ringed field to try and tempt Clarke outside off stump. One good stop at cover aside, the batsman does not offer a shot and a maiden over is the result.

1110: Ian Bell comes back into the attack at the Pavilion End.

1110: Over 77 Giles keeps plugging away and almost has Clarke run out at the non-striker's end after turning and throwing a Katich block to off, the batsman is out of his ground but a sharp effort misses the stumps. Katich keeps a prominent pad outside off and is even confident enough not to offer a shot on occasion with the ball hardly turning at all.

1106: Over 76 Flintoff finally shows his menace, lifting a couple into Clarke's ribs (some effort with three-and-a-bit overs to the new ball) and even finding the outside edge but the ball falls safely. A clip to fine leg brings two runs and Flintoff's later attempts to bring the ball back in on the right-hander do not do enough so the batsman is able to leave alone.

1102: Over 75 Australia have obviously spent a lot of time on the technical side of facing Giles but it only takes one mistake to end an innings. The left-hander gets forward well with good footwork and eventually pushes a single to long-on. Clarke then slashes wide outside off but the ball skips through GO Jones and Trescothick and neither can react to take a catch which would have eclipsed Strauss' to Adam Gilchrist yesterday. They take three to third man and Katich blocks to leave Clarke on strike.

1058: Over 74 Now into the 30s, Katich keeps working the ball around and takes another single to reduce the deficit to 23. Clarke works the ball to Giles at backward point and looks for a run but the fieldsman takes a shy at the stumps; he misses and the ever-alert Bell is backing up. Clarke again tones down his aggression to play out the over.

1054: Over 73 Katich works the ball to leg for a single first up. Clarke comes down the wicket and drives straight at Bell from almost point-blank range but the silly point doesn't flinch, holding out his hands but seeing the ball pop off his wrists. Only the harshest critic would label that a missed chance but it might have stuck and is the kind of luck Australia are overdue. The right-hander backs down on his aggressive stance and plays out the over.

1051: Harmison's ongoing impotence remains a concern for Vaughan as Giles is introduced early at the Radcliffe Road End.

1051: Over 72 Flintoff is bowling to three orthodox slips and a gully bridged by Penney at the fifth slip/gully position where Andrew Strauss took two and dropped one catch yesterday. The second delivery is a no-ball for the third successive Flintoff over, but otherwise he keeps his line and length until Katich flicks a single from the penultimate ball. Clarke blocks out the over, and Vaughan will be concerned that his main strike bowler is exacting so little movement.

1047: Over 71 Katich and Clarke appear agreed on a strategy for facing Harmison, dropping bat on ball and taking singles. Two come early in the over and another at the end.

1043: Over 70 Another no-ball from Flintoff but no runs off the bat. Clarke's usual instinct is to swing high and hard, but with only Ashley Giles and the sub-par Hoggard in reserve the batsmen know that the all-rounder is Vaughan's best hope.

1039: With Gary Pratt playing for Durham, England fielding coach Trevor Penney is on for SP Jones.

1038: Over 69 Katich takes a single from the first ball. Clarke pushes Harmison down the ground and Vaughan and Bell work well in a team to limit it to two. The right-hander then nudges a single to cover and Katich gets bat behind ball off the final delivery.

1034: Steve Harmison from the Radcliffe Road End.

1034: Over 68 Flintoff begins with a couple of looseners, one a no-ball, but then sends one whistling past the outside edge. Katich flicks a single to fine leg off a wayward ball and Clarke decides not to play at three successive balls outside off. Decent start at a good pace from the bowler.

1030: Andrew Flintoff will begin the bowling at the Pavilion End this morning.

1029: The players take the field to a standing ovation.

1000: An early blow for England with the news that Simon Jones will not be taking the field after sustaining an ankle injury yesterday.

The Welshman was instrumental in Australia following-on at Trent Bridge and, with Matthew Hoggard also carrying an injury, this leaves Michael Vaughan with limited options in search of six wickets this morning.

Michael Clarke and Simon Katich resume still 37 in arrears but in the knowledge that a winning target over 200 will test the hosts.

The ground is already almost full and bathed in sunshine, so a positive result looks a certainty.