fifth test, day two

Symonds - a penchant for the erratic.

0813: It is roughly honours even at the SCG. If someone else was at the crease other than the wildly unpredictable Andrew Symonds then Australia would probably take the honours, but 'Roy' has a penchant for the erratic.

Symonds batted remarkabley sensibly with Mike Hussey in the last hour, but in the final over of the day the temptation to try and hit the leather off the ball became too much.

Up until that point it looked as if both men were happy to play for the close, but Symonds had other plans.

Firstly he danced down the pitch and hammered a relatively safe shot down the ground for four (although a mis-cue could have gone anywhere), but after that he decided the most sensible course of action was a wild heave over the off side against Panesar. The heave did not come off, skewed off the toe of the bat and mercifully for him it landed just out of Pietersen's reach.

If that chance had been caught, then judging by the look on Ricky Ponting's face, all hell would have broken loose in the Australian dressing room.

It's impossible to predict which way Symonds will go tomorrow; will he play the measured, sensible innings that he has proved he can play, or will he go nuts again and jeopardise his team's chances? Tune in tomorrow to find out.NM

0555: This is an irritating rain break for England. They were building up some pressure through good bowling by Panesar, Anderson and Harmison, culminating in the latter taking Michael Clarke's wicket.

Now, all of that momentum will have gone down the pan, and Hussey and new man Symonds will have time to re-group.

Having said that, the rain is probably England's best chance of avoiding the 5-0 whitewash. Oh what to hope for......NM

0500: This is much better from England. Monty has Hussey scratching around, and Anderson has just begun to find a little bit of variable bounce, when combined with the swing he's been getting all day, could be problematic for Australia.NM

0300: While England haven't bowled terribly, they are beginning to leak runs worryingly, and you can't help thinking they're missing the steadying inlfluence of Matthew Hoggard.NM

0142: Without doubt Australia's morning, but England will be heartened by the confirmed return to batting form of Andrew Flintoff. He played splendidly for his 89, and spoiled it somewhat by playing a rash shot to get out.NM

0034: Here's something you never thought you'd see - Steve Harmison, who is batting at least two places too high (in most teams, not neccessarily this England side) dealing with a Glenn McGrath over with aplomb.

Just a shame the rest of the team couldn't quite manage the same feat.NM

To be fair to Collingwood, Read and Mahmood all got pretty good deliveries, and only Read might be disappointed that he fenced at his rather than leaving it.NM

2250: Evening all, Nick Miller here. Our usual Ashes stalwart Dave Tickner is unfortunately wallowing at the bottom of a pit of despair this evening, so I will be stepping into the breach. After sticking it out through four total pastings so far, it's a wonder the poor lad lasted this long.NM

In their infinite wisdom, the ICC have decided that only 11 minutes will be needed to make up the near hour that was lost yesterday, so play will start at 2319 GMT. Naturally. Nick Miller