England fluffed the chance to strengthen their advantage on the third Test following another inconsistent wicketkeeping display from Geraint Jones inbetween the showers at Old Trafford.

Restricted to only 14 overs during a rain-affected third day, England would have hoped to have made further inroads into Australia's line-up after they resumed 230 runs adrift on 214 for seven.

But instead of grasping their opportunities - as they had done so successfully during the opening two days of this crucial Test - this time they were unable to take them with wicketkeeper Jones the big culprit as Australia reached 264 for seven by the close.

Criticised for his performance during the 239-run defeat in the opening Ashes Test at Lord's, when he dropped two comfortable catches and prompted former Australian captain Allan Border to suggest he should be dropped, Jones can expect similar treatment again after today's display.

Needing only 31 runs to avoid the prospect of following on for the first time in 17 years and the first time in an Ashes Test since 1986, Australia's hopes of avoiding that prospect hinged on Shane Warne progressing past his half-century and beyond.

But twice, including once before Australia had saved the follow on, Jones allowed him to escape and he finished unbeaten on 78 in sight of his first century in his 126th Test after adding a crucial 50 runs with Jason Gillespie in the play available.

Warne had already survived one near reprieve after reaching 51 when he came down the wicket to Ashley Giles and drove hard down the pitch, which narrowly evaded the England spinner's outstretched hand, clipped the top of the stumps and flew to the boundary.

Australia were still 13 runs adrift of reaching their follow-on target of 245 at that stage and Warne was gifted another reprieve off the very next ball when he again advanced down the pitch, but this time Giles beat him with the turn only for Jones to fluff a regulation stumping.

The importance of that miss was underlined with Warne driving down the ground for four in Giles' next over to save the follow on before the rain once again intervened and caused a halt after eight overs and 32 minutes play.

Jones' composure was clearly not recovered during the 100 minutes delay before play began again because three overs after the re-start Warne pushed forward to all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and edged behind and give a routine catch at waist height.

Jones did not need to move to take it and got both gloves behind the ball but, perhaps still focusing on his earlier miss, he embarrassingly fumbled and allowed Warne to escape for a second time.

That blunder took Jones' tally of mistakes in 18 Tests to a disappointing 10 dropped catches and three missed stumpings while he has conceded 189 byes during the same period.

Asked how crucial the missed opportunities were, coach Duncan Fletcher told Channel 4: "It's important. You don't want to miss any chances at this level and we've missed some today.

"Anyone who drops catches is going to be upset and he's (Jones) got to make sure that he has the character to handle that."

Fletcher added on Sky Sports News: "They are chances that Geraint would expect to take but, every now and again, you are going to have a few lapses."