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By Peter May
Result: Match Drawn
1812: Umpires Koertzen and Bowden knock off the bails and it's official, England have regained the Ashes.
1810: The covers are coming on with common sense perhaps to prevail. There is no value added whatsoever in playing on now, this is not a question of keeping the contest going since this is not a contest. England have won the Ashes. The ICC rules may not allow the cessation of play but that has produced a bona fide shambles, a pathetic anti-climax to the series.
1758: The players leave the field but this may be a light technicality. A profoundly stupid end to such a wonderful series.
1755: Over 0.4 Harmison begins with two bouncers and Langer is forced to duck out of the way. He is a man after my own heart here, bowling with such obvious disregard for the batsmen's safety that a premature end may be forced. After two more bad balls the umpires talk to Langer and Hayden and the chaos grows.
1755: Steve Harmison to bowl from the Pavilion End.
1752: England take the field to a magnificent reception but this really is a phenomenal waste of time. Having spent the summer picking up cricket fans of all ages around the country, they are now in danger of losing them. Foolish, irrelevant bureaucracy has driven us to this point and the best we can hope for now is a few overs of spin from Andrew Strauss to expedite the close.
1744: England, 2nd Innings 335 all out, lead Australia by 341 runs
1744: WICKET!
SJ Harmison c Hayden b Warne 0 Warne catches the outside edge of the bat and first slip takes a sharp low catch to bring an end to his Test career in England.
1742: WICKET!
AF Giles b Warne 59 Unbelievable. He's still finished with a five-for, suckering the batsman with a beautifully flighted ball which passes serenely around the legs to hit all three and end Giles' hopes of a maiden Test century.
1740: Over 90 After a torrid day in the field, Tait is not finishing on a high note. He struggles with his line but Bowden is generous in not awarding wides and the over finishes without incident.
1735: Tait returns to the attack.
1735: Over 89 Warne goes for four to Giles' cover drive from the first ball and plays out the over.
1730: Apparently we are going to play the remaining time against all logic. Warne is brought back into the attack.
1728: A drinks break is called with the chance to get Ponting and Vaughan together for a chat.
1725: Over 88 Lee continues to thunder in despite the match situation, hitting Hoggard with 95mph bouncers. The frustration on his face his terrible, something not helped by Hoggard's Worzel Gummage routine at the other end.
1720: Giles 50: 87 balls, 5 x 4s
1720: Over 87 The start to McGrath's over is delayed by movement behind the bowler's arm but the thunders in anyway to show us what we've been missing and sends off stump cart-wheeling with a beauty. The smiles are back on English faces soon after as the King Of Spain hammers four through cover and mid-on to bring up the half-century.
1715: Over 86 Lee is bowling with fire and menace, a summer's frustration coming out of his hand at 95 mph. Giles pushes through cover for one and Hoggard has to withstand a barrage of bouncers two of which are called 'no-ball' by Koertzen.
1710: Over 85 Giles sweeps away mid-over and that single is the only run as Hoggard does what he does best, or at least second best after grimacing like Albert Steptoe. The Yorkshireman blocks out.
1705: Over 84 Hoggard looks happy enough to Lee, such has the initiative been taken away from Australia. Only 16 more overs to bowl after an innings change so Australia will surely not bat now.
1700: Over 83 The heroes of Trent Bridge are back together again and it's just like old times, Hoggard working a single from mid-wicket from his first ball to keep the strike.
1658: WICKET!
KP Pietersen b McGrath 158 One of the most famous innings in English cricket history is brought to an end by a McGrath jaffer, pitching on middle and leg and nipping back to knock the off peg out. The Oval rises to its feet and not to welcome Matthew Hoggard, arguably the nation's most boring batsman, to the crease. Pietersen also gets a shake of the hand from Warne on his way to the pavilion.
1653: Over 82 Giles flicks through mid-wicket mid-over and runs a hard two to bring up the 300, another landmark passed. A no-ball and two singles makes five from the over.
1648: Warne is out of the attack for the first time in six hours as Lee takes the new ball from the Vauxhall Road End.
1648: Over 81 Decent enough start until one remembers the match circumstances, a single for Giles bringing up the 100 partnership and the Warwickshire man deserves huge credit for his supporting role here.
1643: Australia take the new ball.
1642: Over 80 Pietersen goes to 150 in style, hitting a six over long-on and then a four to square on the off side. Warne's mood is not improved when a massive top edge falls safe at extra-cover for one and Giles too takes a single. This also takes the lead beyond 300 and the partnership to 99*.
1638: Over 79 Giles begins the over in some style, square-cutting McGrath off the front foot for four. The atmosphere is now one of seeing Vaughan lift the urn and it is a sign of England's dominance that the over finishes with a thick-edged four to third man.
1634: Over 78 One run from the over upon resumption. Giles can work an easy single to leg and keep the strike. Australia look an old, tired side now and for all his enduring genius this summer Warne is now the embodiment of that.
1629: Over 77 There is no urgency to the game now, Australia are left to rely on hope rather than their two great bowlers. Settled batsmen always have an edge on their opponents and Pietersen has the measure of McGrath accordingly, finally getting a boundary away with a magnificent cover drive from the last of the over. England go to drinks in control of the urn.
1624: Over 76 Pietersen hammers another four away through cover as Warne begins to lose his radar. The next is a full toss on leg and the lead is up to 275 with a single out to the leg-side boundary. Giles is fired by the sight and plays a rare attacking shot to the spinner himself, nudging a three through cover to keep the strike.
1620: Over 75 McGrath is greeted with a square cut from Giles, Lee sliding to stop a boundary and keep in to three. Pietersen takes a moment to adjust to the McGrath line but clubs a pull away and watches Giles play and miss to the last of the over.
1616: McGrath takes over from Lee at the Pavilion End.
1616: Over 74 After seven weeks of breakneck excitement, there is little left for England or the fans to do but be patient. It will take something for them to lose the Ashes from here and Pietersen and Giles know it, keeping this simple to Warne who has the look of a defeated man.
1612: Over 73 Pietersen is in a scoring mood, taking a single from the very first ball, but Giles is happier in the role of background furniture and simply blocks out five in a row.
1609: Over 72 Pietersen looks to carry victory closer, skipping down the pitch and hitting Warne over the top for another six. There is a change in the dynamic now as later in the over he hits back down the ground for four. A single off the final ball keeps him on strike, how many more can he add?
1605: Over 71 Lee puts Pietersen on the back foot with a couple of bouncers and one is even fended off in the air, the ball falling safe. But he lives to regret forcing the batsman into such a position as he flicks an effortless pull over mid-wicket for six. They would therefore need over 250 in under 40 overs.
1601: Over 70 Three more from the over and the crowd are braced to see the latter two runs come courtesy of another Tait misfield out at backward point. The lead is 245.
1556: Over 69 Maiden over from Lee with Giles very happy to keep it simple now. There is a carnival atmosphere on the terraces and Australia look a little short of inspiration.
1552: Over 68 Four from the over, singles apiece and two more for Pietersen. We hesitate to say it but, oh what the hell: Warne looks tired here, the menace of the morning session has abated.
1548: Over 67 Lee is never really reproduced the menace of that one over before lunch, he isn't bowling many balls which boast wicket-taking menace and allows Pietersen to leave too many alone, flick one to leg and then there is an easy cover drive for two to Giles.
1543: Over 66 Pietersen gets his first involvement of the session, blocking two and then guiding a three wide of Hayden's right hand at slip. Giles keeps up the defence to Warne and Australia need a moment of inspiration in the near future.
1538: Over 65 Giles is dominating the strike here, playing out five balls and flicking a boundary to leg from the last of Lee's over. Australia need a wicket but might they not be best to use McGrath to get it?
1534: Lee comes on at the Pavilion End as Ponting gambles on a wicket.
1534: Over 64 Giles has never played Warne with such confidence, blocking from a strong stride forward and working a single from the last ball of the over.
1530: Warne will continue from the Vauxhall Road End, Giles taking strike.
1530: The players return to the field.
1510: End of session
England, 2nd Innings 221 for seven, lead Australia by 227 runs
A brilliant session for England, Kevin Pietersen making a debut Test century with dogged support from Paul Collingwood and Ashley Giles.
The home team will now aim to make their three remaining wickets last as long as possible with just 46 overs left to play today once two overs have been wiped out by the innings turnaround.
They will surely be bowled out at some stage and Australia have the hitters to take on England's four-man attack.
The fat lady isn't needed for some time yet.
1510: Pietersen 100: 124 balls, 10 x 4s, 4 x 6s
1510: Over 63 Pietersen looks nervous trying to get Tait away early in the over but is then sent one in the slot and he hammers away to the cover boundary to bring up a maiden Test century. Two more are run hard to keep on strike and then Lee slides to stop another four to the cover boundary. Just a single there and Giles plays out the over, finishing with a single. Tea is called to the crowd's relief though Warne might be glad of the rest too.
1504: Over 62 Warne has the leg-side boundary well covered to prevent the century coming up in style but the batsman is happy flicking a single to the leg side. Giles is watchful to Warne and playing the legspinner well. He sees out the over.
1501: Over 61 It's all suddenly very softly, softly from Pietersen as he is happy with another driven single this time early in the over. Tait hurls down a series of stock balls: fast, swinging in and for once very full. A bouncer last ball is fended to gully and there are probably three overs still to bowl until tea.
1457: Over 60 Pietersen blocks out four balls and then clubs a single to mid-off. Giles blocks out the over. England seem to have found a new focus now that they have the target of tea to aim for and Pietersen will take strike to Tait just one boundary from a maiden Test ton.
1453: Over 59 Tait is really hurling it down here but the radar remains a problem. Giles can work three off his legs with a flick to fine leg and Pietersen blocks the next, in the process cracking his second bat of the day. He puts the new blade to good use at the first opportunity, an inswinging yorker flicked off leg stump and through to the midwicket boundary. He moves onto 95* with a pushed single to cover and Giles plays out the over.
1448: Over 58 Giles gets forward onto his front foot whenever possible and is helped by some of Warne's poorer offerings. The spinner must be tired but Ponting does not have the time to give him a rest. Giles gets a full toss last ball to double his score and keep the strike.
1444: Over 57 Ashley Giles comes to the crease with the lead 205. He scores a single from the final ball of the over to bring up the 200 in this innings.
1440: WICKET!
GO Jones b Tait 1 What an over! Tait begins with a loosener, short and on off and Pietersen rocks onto the bat foot before driving perfectly through the gap at cover for four. The next gets the same treatment only backward of square and the minimum target of 200 has been achieved. The danger is shown next ball, Pietersen lifting a full ball towards mid-off but Katich doesn't pick up quick enough to take a plausible catch. The batsman then moves onto 90* with a push out to the cover boundary. And Jones is beaten by a fast inswinger which keeps low and sends the off stump cartwheeling back towards the Vauxhall Road.
1436: The volatile Tait joins the attack for the first time in the innings.
1436: Over 56 Pietersen draws a few smiles from the field with an attempted slog sweep to a ripper pitching on off. It turns enough to spin the length of his bat swung horizontally and misses the toe of the bat. A single from the final ball.
1433: Over 55 Pietersen is obviously in the mood to carry England to tea in the ascendant. He sees a strong drive stopped at mid-off and then hammers one through mid-wicket, reduced to a single by the boundary sweeper. Jones leaves the last alone.
1429: Over 54 Maiden over from Warne but Jones does appear to be picking him out of the hand. The new batsman keeps it simple with four catchers still in attendance
1424: Over 53 Pietersen plays an early ball behind square for one and Jones is soon off the mark with a favoured square cut for one. Pietersen doesn't really do blocking per se but sees relatively modest attempted drives down the ground blocked.
1419: Over 52 Geraint Jones comes to the crease and plays out one ball with four catchers around the bat. There is no such thing as a meaningless passage of play now but this is particularly interesting - the batting side cannot afford to be all out by tea but neither of these batsmen will defend as a matter of course. The momentum is now in a spiral with Jones far stronger when he can dictate rather than be dictated to. Pietersen must follow the Richie Benaud mantra: Be There At The End.
1415: WICKET!
PD Collingwood c Ponting b Warne 10 Collingwood's plan of blocking every Warne ball comes unstuck and his courageous defence is undone by a bat-pad catch to silly point.
1412: Over 51 A real slow in the rate now after that flurry of hitting off Lee. Collingwood stonewalls four and takes a single off the fifth. Ponting sets the field for a Pietersen smash and though he does attempt that on-drive from off with the bat turning in his hands, it is aimed along the ground and fielded to take England to drinks in a good mood. What an hour that has been for the batting side.
1408: Over 50 Warne continues around the wicket and hits Pietersen full on the foot but just outside the line so lbw appeals are rejected. Pietersen is happy enough padding up outside leg and another maiden passes to obvious relief in the crowd.
1404: Over 49 Collingwood is in no mood to match strike-rates with Pietersen. He happily plays out a maiden to McGrath and that is the kind of discipline England need. He may only be 5* but has faced 40 balls and the little hand on the pavilion clock is round past the 2.
1359: Over 48 Collingwood flicks a single to square leg off the second ball, almost as if he is aware that people are keen to see the main event. Warne decides to take it up a notch by coming around the wicket to Pietersen and the batsman initially makes liberal use of the pad. He tries to sweep the final ball, bottom-edges down onto the side of his front foot but also the ground and it bounces up for a slip catch. Australia react with typical enthusiasm and Koertzen is not sure, he consults Bowden but they decide not to go to the third umpire and the "not out" verdict is the correct one.
1354: Over 47 Mixed return from McGrath, who even commits the cardinal sin of a no-ball. Pietersen takes a single from the first ball and Collingwood the same from the last. Three from the over, then and a partnership beginning to blossom.
1349: Gilchrist now joins the brains trust and this is turning into an early tea break. The key to this decision is clearly that Pietersen will want to hit McGrath out of SW11 regardless of the fact that this is nigh on impossible. It's a battle of wills and skills.
1347: McGrath returns for Lee at the Pavilion End and there is a lengthy delay while Ponting talks to his bowler. Katich is replaced by Michael Kasprowicz as he seeks treatent to the bat and ribs for that Collingwood blow.
1345: Over 46 Warne drops his first ball short on leg and Collingwood whacks it straight into Katich at short leg. They scamper a single and Pietersen is now facing Warne with an open stance which brings to mind Mark Lathwell against the same opposition 12 years ago. There is one subtle difference, however: Pietersen can hit the ball and he is able to take another single through the off side to keep the score moving. Collingwood uses pad and bat intelligently to play out the over.
1340: Over 45 Lee is given another over with Collingwood on strike. The batsman is pinned by one inswinger but the no-ball cry precludes an lbw appeal. It is a strange decision, though - nowhere near over the line. The next is a really fast bouncer into the head, fended off, and Pietersen decides to run a hard single to the danger end off a forward defensive to get his team-mate off strike. This was not the news Lee needed, Pietersen clubs both remaining deliveries back down the ground with the back-lift and follow-through of John Daly off the tee. He is onto 76*, his highest Test score and England lead by 177.
1333: Over 44 Warne is bowling to Collingwood with two slips, a short leg and silly point. The batsman gets a block on the first but is beaten all ends up by a bouncing, ripping legspinner second ball. The third is left alone and Warne takes an unnecessary amount of time over the remaining deliveries, trying to give the batsman too much thinking time. It back-fires with a long-hop last up, worked to off to get off the mark and keep the strike.
1328: Over 43 Pietersen is taking the fight to Australia now, taking on the hook from the first ball of the over but missing the hit. He soon makes amends with another top-edged six over fine leg and Lee loses his line a touch. The batsman flicks another leg-side ball off his pads and it is technically a catching chance for Tait at fine leg but he does well even to get there and cannot prevent a four. The next is too short too and Pietersen flicks fine again for another four before blocking out the over. Something has to give if he's going to bat like that.
1324: Pietersen 50: 69 x balls, 2 x4s, 3 x6s
1324: Over 42 Pietersen pushes a two early in the over and that brings up a streaky but priceless half-century. He skips down the wicket to the next and works a single to mid-wicket to leave Collingwood with four balls to get to know Warne. He plays out the over well and the lead is over 150.
1320: Over 41 Even those sleeping off a lunch in the members' bar will have been shaken awake as the collision of two irresistible forces continues. Collingwood and Pietersen each push singles to keep the score moving and the number five then top-edges a bouncer high over fine leg for six. A risky shot, but imagine how far it would go if he actually hit it out of the middle. A single puts Collingwood on strike and he has to keep out a reverse-swinging yorker. Not a development to please English fans.
1316: Lee will continue after that extraordinary over before lunch.
1316: Over 40 Pietersen has to be alert to block the first ball of the session, a legbreak which keeps very low. He remains watchful and works a hard-run two to Tait out at deep cover in the middle of the over. A single puts Collingwood on strike and he blocks out the over.
1312: Warne will resume at the Vauxhall Road End.
1312: The Australians trot down the pavilion steps with Pietersen and Collingwood in tow. There is not a cloud in the south London sky.
1234: End of session
England, 2nd Innings 127 for five, lead by 133 runs
A disorienting morning with England's wheels coming off in little over an hour.
Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan looked comfortable enough to Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee until the veteran seamer took two wickets in successive balls, first the England captain and then Ian Bell.
Shane Warne was into the attack by this stage and began to work his magic without respite from the Vauxhall Road End, removing Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff in the run-up to lunch.
Kevin Pietersen, already dropped twice, and Paul Collingwood are now at the crease under great pressure to produce a rearguard action and help extend England's innings beyond tea.
Geraint Jones, who with Collingwood performed a remarkable salvage job in the biggest ODI match of the summer, is still to come and then the tail while as ever Warne holds the key for the tourists.
It really is too tense to be true at The Oval, with all three results on the table and an irresistible afternoon in prospect.
1234: Over 39 Lee rattles his first ball of the over through on Pietersen and it hits him. The batsman requires lengthy treatment, a clever move which means this will be the last over before lunch. The bowler is unimpressed and sends a bouncer through into his chest. The third of the over is a vicious bouncer, rising to hit the glove and clear the slip cordon for one. Ponting has a short leg, two slips and a gully for Collingwood but the attempted yorker spears down leg. The fifth of the over is the first played with any confidence, patted down to leg and the sixth swings in on the right-hander, edged onto the pads. Maybe the best over of outright pace bowling we have seen all summer to take us to lunch.
1225: Over 38 Paul Collingwood comes to the crease with one job and one job alone: justify his selection ahead of the fifth bowler England may sorely need later this afternoon. He blocks the final ball of the over.
1223: WICKET!
A Flintoff c & b Warne 8 Warne encourages Flintoff to hit out and initially pays the price with a boundary through cover. The next three are driven back down the ground, the final of these just on the up and the bowler takes a smart low return catch to put England in real trouble.
1219: Over 37 Lee continues to offer comparative relief. A fast, full ball hits the foothole and jags away for four wides down leg. The batsmen then exchange singles and edge closer to lunch. Probably time for two more from Warne if he keeps things moving.
1214: Over 36 Warne's brain works at a different speed to any other cricketer, perhaps drawing on energy saved from his amble-up to the crease. He is beginning very wide and drifting the ball onto off stump to try and tempt Pietersen into the slog-sweep from too far across and against the spin. The right-hander bats with concentration but has to survive a very good lbw shout trying to sweep the third ball. He then works a single and Flintoff blocks out.
1209: Over 35 Five dot balls and a single. Lee is bowling to Pietersen with a leg-gully so the batsman takes a big risk in flicking off his pads but he gets away with it and keeps the strike to face Warne.
1205: Over 34 Andrew Flintoff arrives at the crease to a passionate standing ovation but the crowd are silenced as his first ball rips past the outside edge. He plays out the over and England really need a big partnership here: an hour together will add the best part of a hundred runs and kill some time but the next wicket already exposes batsmen who cannot play Warne.
1201: WICKET!
ME Trescothick lbw b Warne 33 Trescothick finally falls to the left-hander's curse, a big turner jagging in to hit in front of the stumps and put England back on the back foot.
1200: Over 33 Trescothick pushes an off-side single early in the over and Pietersen is back on strike to Lee following that near escape. The right-hander shoulders arms to his first ball and then pushes a hard-run two to cover. He then has to be alert to keep out two straight ones on yorker length at bay.
1155: Over 32 The violent fluctuations of a Pietersen innings continue unabated. He hits the first ball from middle stump over square leg for six but Warne is not too unhappy about that, tempting a big swing to one outside off which misses the bat. The right-hander blocks two to huge ironic cheers and then swipes another slog-sweep from middle and leg over mid-wicket for another six. Interesting over, then and England are building something of a partnership here. Survival until lunch would be a huge fillip for the home team.
1150: Over 31 This offers England a chance now, Lee and Tait have each struggled on an unhelpful pitch. Pietersen highlights the point with a drive down the ground for four. Lee hits back though with a fast ball fuller than normal length and Pietersen drives inside the line, edging straight to Warne at first slip but he drops the most straightforward of catches. The ball almost hits the helmet but England would be a touch greedy to pine for five runs at this stage, it wouldn't be surprising if Pietersen gave Warne the old chestnut: "Well done, mate: you've just dropped the Ashes" because that's precisely the kind of bravado surplus he suffers from. At least they run a single and the lead is now 100.
1145: Lee takes over from McGrath at the Pavilion End.
1145: Over 30 Just when it looked as if Pietersen was going to play the situation rather than pursuing this legend-in-his-own-mind path, he takes a single to the right hand of Michael Clarke. There are certain things in this modern world of ours and this is one simply does not do and this is one of them, a direct hit at the non-striker's end just a split-second too late to run out England's right-hander. Trescothick takes a little momentum back for England from the final ball, angling it down to third man for a sublime four.
1140: Over 29 McGrath is happy playing the holding role now, keeping the ball in the right areas and allowing Warne to apply the real pressure. England are grateful for one from the over.
1137: Over 28 Trescothick takes a single mid-over, he is not afraid to try some shots against Warne. Pietersen is hardly likely to suffer a crisis of confidence either, though he can't have been helped by one that rips from outside leg to past off. The spinner is not going to go quietly on his last day of Test cricket in England.
1130: Over 27 Pietersen raises a big cheer by crashing through his favoured mid-wicket for four. He tries a push through extra-cover and inside-edges to short leg on the bounce. Who said there was no chance of seam movement this morning? In addition the big problem for England is that McGrath is finally finding that corridor-of-uncertainty line which makes facing him such a difficult proposition. Probably shouldn't have angered him with that 1047 update. Drinks are taken with this series still in the balance.
1126: Over 26 Any beneficial aspect of that over rather disappears in a puff of dust here as Warne rips one from 18 inches outside off to hit Trescothick on the pads, the lbw appeals are rejected because it is missing leg. Yes, it moved that much. There is a single apiece though so the lead is up to 85.
1123: Over 25 A better over for England soothes the nerves with five runs, Trescothick taking two and one to leg and Pietersen getting off the mark through mid-wicket.
1118: Over 24 Trescothick takes a single first ball to expose Pietersen to Warne. The field is set to offer the big hit over mid-wicket but the right-hander is circumspect, perhaps he might be better to play his natural game as a thick edge falls to Matthew Hayden at slip but the big man fails to get down low and England have a massive let-off.
1113: Over 23 Kevin Pietersen comes out with one ball to face and that is a hat-trick ball from McGrath. It is an absolute snorter, rising on the batsman and beating the outside edge at head height, hitting the shoulder and being caught by Ponting at third slip. Brilliant decision from Bowden to reject appeals.
1111: WICKET!
IR Bell c Warne b McGrath 0 Bell goes first ball, tempted into an edge outside off and Warne watches it all the way into the hands at first slip.
1109: WICKET!
MP Vaughan c Gilchrist b McGrath 45 The spell is broken as Vaughan is tempted into a thick edge to one that rises on the England captain. Adam Gilchrist takes a superb catch high to his right.
1107: Over 22 Shaun Tait offers further proof that he is a better batsman than fielder. Vaughan takes two off the first ball and then works one to cover, the single becomes two through a Tait misfield and then three as he overthrows. The lead is over 100, crowd are bullish now and Warne has little choice but to put his hands on his hips and pout.
1104: Over 21 Two more added but more importantly an over and four minutes exhausted. The batsmen take a single apiece, Trescothick working the first ball to fine leg and Vaughan pushing through cover later in the over.
1100: Over 20 Relatively low-key start from Warne, it is really a little early in the day for the legspinner. Trescothick is positive in defence, getting bat on five blocks and then angling one behind square on the off to keep the strike to McGrath.
1056: Ricky Ponting has already seen enough and brings on Warne, whose shoulder will be bowled to within an inch of its life today.
1056: Over 19 What a time to be alive and an English batsman - the era of Glenn McGrath bowling a four-ball per over. Vaughan is again the beneficiary through his favourite cover area and a weak bouncer allows the England captain to hook for two more to Lee at long leg. Vaughan is now 41* while his deputy is still back on 17*.
1051: Over 18 The 50 is up and the sell-out crowd buzzing. There are three runs from the over all in singles and both batsmen look to have settled very nicely, more than can be said for Lee who cannot get that vicious outswinger working.
1047: Over 17 McGrath is not the same bowler since that Edgbaston injury, no question about that. He allows Trescothick a pushed single on the off with the kind of slightly loose ball which has plagued his form since Birmingham. Vaughan then angles a shortish, wide one to third man for a four. Vaughan then works a single and Trescothick gets squarely behind the ball to keep the remainder at bay. Lightening start by England - could an aggressive declaration be on the cards by lunch? No.
1042: Over 16 Costly start from Lee puts the crowd in a good mood. Vaughan tries to get used to the pace for three balls but doesn't look to have done so to the fourth, a thick edge evading the slips for a four to third man. He then pushes a single from the penultimate ball of the over but Trescothick nicks the strike with a flick to leg from the final delivery.
1037: Brett Lee to bowl from the Vauxhall Road End.
1037: Over 15 Maiden over from McGrath, Trescothick shouldering arms where possible and not looking too troubled with the movement nothing to compare to that enjoyed yesterday by England.
1032: Glenn McGrath to bowl from the Pavilion End.
1032: Over 14 The very first ball turns a mile to Vaughan, who at least has it better than Trescothick, the only left-hander in the England team and as such particularly vulnerable to those big foot-marks outside his off stump. The England captain gets forward, bat and pad together, and the ball flicks both before evading Simon Katich at silly point. Only 587 more of those to go today, skipper. The next delivery is a relief to the batsman, a rank full toss hammered down the ground for four. This gives him the confidence to play out the over.
1030: Shane Warne has four balls remaining from a curtailed over.
1028: Where there is glory, there will be those seeking to bask in the reflection and the players' entry is delayed by a corporate-sponsored rendition of Jerusalem. That's npower for you: producing gas, electricity and pride on demand. The manufactured patriotism over, Marcus Trescothick and Vaughan follow umpires Koertzen and Bowden and the Australian fieldsmen out onto The Oval.
1000: The weather is much brighter at The Oval and we are confident that the final day of the 2005 Ashes will pass without interruption.
All three results are still possible after England bowled themselves back into contention yesterday but no team has held the momentum for long this summer and Australia will be hopeful of claiming nine wickets in two sessions to get back on top.
The home team lead by 40 so surviving beyond tea should preclude a parity-restoring win for the tourists but they in turn will be favourites if they can begin their innings in the middle session.
Perhaps most enticing of all to the neutrals is the prospect of Australia needing around 250 from 40 overs, something which might just do justice to everything to have gone before.
It is difficult to imagine a fitting climax to this special sporting contest, which has eclipsed anything seen in this country for decades.
Multiply Italia '90 by Euro '96 by the'93 Ryder Cup by Redgrave's fifth gold in Sydney. Cube it and you're not even close.
So, as much as it would be tempting for a partial Ashes correspondent to implore the heavens to open so Michael Vaughan can take the urn away on a speedboat with the other 10 players forming a pyramid on water-skies behind, we are hoping for one last exhibition of pure competition.
This is one of those days when productivity in the UK hits an all-new trough as the nation's workers spend the day praying and anxiously eyeing a discreetly minimised browser window.
Join us: the economy will be there tomorrow but England and Australia each have only one shot at this.
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