sydney d3 commentary

Well any faint hopes England had of avoiding the whitewash have been dashed by some excellent, tight bowling from Australia.

Pietersen is still there, but with only Read and the tail (or just 'The Tail', depending on how you rate the Notts keeper) for company, we could be in for a short day tomorrow with England just 12 runs ahead.

Join us tomorrow nonetheless.

0716: Over 43 Pietersen dances down the pitch to Clark but misses, then pushes a quick single, giving Panesar the strike. Clark greets him with a bouncer that Monty ducks under well enough. There are men wherever Panesar looks - slips, a short leg, leg slip, shortish point, and Panesar is wide-eyed. He survives, and that's stumps.

England 2nd Inns, 114-5, Pietersen 28*, Panesar 0*.

0712: Over 42 Panesar deals with his first ball well enough, then tentatively pushes at one and gets an inside edge, but it goes safe.

England 2nd Inns, 113-5, Pietersen 27*, Panesar 0*.

0708:Well stone the crows, guess who's coming to the wicket? It's Monty!

0707: WICKET

A Flintoff st Gilchrist b Warne 7

Pietersen skips down the pitch to Warne, misses, and is lucky that the ball hits his pads, otherwise he would have been in some bother. He then takes a single, and Flintoff misses a forward defensive and his toe just doens't make it over the line before Gilchrist whips the bails off.

0704: Over 41 Pietersen blocks the first couple from Clark, then mis-times a cut for a single. Flintoff then opens the face to guide the ball down to the third man boundary for four.

England 2nd Inns, 112-4, Pietersen 27*, Flintoff 7*.

0659: Over 40 Pietersen immediately turns one round the corner for a single, and that's it for the over.

England 2nd Inns, 107-4, Pietersen 25*, Flintoff 3*.

0656: Big cheers around th SCG as Warne comes back, probably about an hour too late.

0655: Over 39 Back to form as Clark bowls another maiden, this time all at captain Flintoff. England are now four runs ahead.

England 2nd Inns, 106-4, Pietersen 24*, Flintoff 3*.

0649: Over 38 Pietersen gets a single off Symonds, then Flintoff clips one nicely through mid-wicket for three. That qualifies as free-flowing scoring by this morning's standards. And yet more - a veritable bonanza as Pietersen square drives Symonds to the fence.

England 2nd Inns, 106-4, Pietersen 24*, Flintoff 3*.

0645: Over 37 Yet another quiet over, Clark keeping Flintoff runless this time.

England 2nd Inns, 98-4, Pietersen 21*, Flintoff 0*.

0641: Over 36 Gilchrist is now standing up to Symonds, in another attempt to frustrate Pietersen back into the pavillion. Another maiden for Australia, and England still trail by four.

England 2nd Inns, 98-4, Pietersen 21*, Flintoff 0*.

0637: Flintoff is the new man for England.

0636: WICKET

P Collingwood c Hayden b Clark 17

Pietersen gets a single, then Collingwood drives at a wide one from Clark and Hayden takes a great low diving catch in the gully. It's the breakthrough that Australia were looking for just before the close.

0632: Over 34 Collingwood clips one down to deep backward square for a single, then Pietersen does the same.

England 2nd Inns, 96-3, Pietersen 20*, Collingwood 17*.

0628: Over 33 Pietersen may have found the reason why scoring has been sluggish for him - his bat it broken, so Geraint Jones trundles out with a replacement.

England 2nd Inns, 94-3, Pietersen 19*, Collingwood 16*.

0624: Over 32 Proof that Pietersen isn't quite as impatient as the Australians think he is, as he happily plays out a maiden from Symonds.

England 2nd Inns, 91-3, Pietersen 17*, Collingwood 15*.

0619: Over 31 Clark is back on, and Collingwood plays another half-controlled edge down to the third man boundary. England trail by 11 now, so they should be in the lead by the close of play.

England 2nd Inns, 91-3, Pietersen 17*, Collingwood 15*.

0614: Over 30 Pietersen's eyes light up at the sight of the dreadlocks, and he skips down the pitch and tries to flick over mid-wicket. He misses, and Symonds screams for the lbw, but there was no way Bowden could give that. Pietersen then plays a lovely on-drive for four.

England 2nd Inns, 87-3, Pietersen 17*, Collingwood 11*.

0610: Interesting move by Ponting - Symonds comes on, when logic would suggest the chap with 700 Test wickets standing at slip would be a better bet.

0609: Over 29 Lee bowls a wide from the first ball, Pietersen gets a single then Lee implores Dar to give Collingwood out for a catch down the leg side. Good decision that one - it flicked the pad on the way through, but Lee isn't happy. Collingwood responds by hitting two to the point boundary - one along the floor, one high over the fielders.

England 2nd Inns, 83-3, Pietersen 13*, Collingwood 11*.

0602: Over 28 The good news for England is that Collingwood and Pietersen don't seem to be getting that frustrated by the lack of runs. And it's a good job too, as McGrath sends down another maiden. Collingwood survives a big lbw shout as he shoulders arms to the last ball of the over. It was going a little over and a little wide of off stump. That good decision from Bowden doesn't compensate for the shocker that did for Adam Gilchrist earlier in the day.

England 2nd Inns, 73-3, Pietersen 12*, Collingwood 3*.

0557: Over 27 Collingwood finally gets off the mark with a badly miscued shot - he was aiming for mid-wicket but Clarke pulled it in just short of the point ropes. Pietersen tries to smack the cover off another (and again gets nowt), but grabs a couple from a tuck off his hips.

England 2nd Inns, 73-3, Pietersen 12*, Collingwood 3*.

0552: Over 26 The first phase of this frustration tactic is working like a charm for Australia, in that they are denying Pietersen any runs. The next phase will rely on KP miscueing one of these strokes that he is trying to hit harder and harder. No joy that time, and McGrath chalks up another maiden.

England 2nd Inns, 68-3, Pietersen 10*, Collingwood 3*.

0548: Over 25 Pietersen finally gets a full, widish one to open his shoulders to, but despite a powerful drive he still gets no runs as Symonds stops. Pietersen gets a run at last - the first in 15 balls - as drinks are taken....or not - the giant Gatorade bottle thing is about 15 minutes early and is sent back with it's inflatable tail in between its inflatable legs.

England 2nd Inns, 68-3, Pietersen 10*, Collingwood 0*.

0544: Over 24 Another maiden for Australia. This time McGrath keeps Collingwood quiet.

England 2nd Inns, 67-3, Pietersen 9*, Collingwood 0*.

0539: Over 23 Pietersen has another frustrating over, and tries to alleviate that by smacking one into the covers, but it's stopped well. Meanwhile, Andrew Strauss is on his way to hospital to have a scan after that blow on the head.

England 2nd Inns, 67-3, Pietersen 9*, Collingwood 0*.

0534: Over 22 Pietersen again gets little joy from McGrath, before he half-controls an edge through the slips and they run well to get three.

England 2nd Inns, 67-3, Pietersen 9*, Collingwood 0*.

0529: Over 21 Collingwood survives the last ball of the over after getting a barrage of abuse, mainly from Warne at slip.

England 2nd Inns, 64-3, Pietersen 6*, Collingwood 0*.

0527: Paul Collingwood is the next man in, and he's sure to get a spicy reception.

0526: WICKET

I Bell c Gilchrist b Lee 28

Bell plays a very un-Bell like shot to edge behind. Lee slips a slightly wider one that probably isn't full enought to drive, but Bell flings everything at it with little footwork and nicks through to Gilchrist.

0524: Brett Lee is coming on for Clark.

0523: Over 20 Pietersen again doesn't score off a McGrath over, perhaps Australia are trying the same tactic England do with Symonds and Hayden - to frustrate an attacking player into a mistake.

England 2nd Inns, 64-2, Bell 28*, Pietersen 6*.

0519: Over 19 Bell slices a drive off Clark rather, but it's all along the ground and he gets two for it. He then scampers through for a single to give Pietersen a go. Clark optimistically claims lbw, but it's going well over. Pietersen then pulls to the man on the mid-wicket boundary and they take a single.

England 2nd Inns, 64-2, Bell 28*, Pietersen 6*.

0514: Over 18 Pietersen defends a whole over from McGrath, no runs scored.

England 2nd Inns, 60-2, Bell 25*, Pietersen 5*.

0510: Over 17 Pietersen looks desperately to get off the mark, and does so with one of those front foot smacks that most would play off the back foot, through the off side for four. He then takes on Symonds' arm for a quick single, and just makes it back as the all-rounder hits.

England 2nd Inns, 60-2, Bell 24*, Pietersen 5*.

0506: Over 16 Bell leaves all but one of that McGrath over, which he dead bats down the pitch.

England 2nd Inns, 55-2, Bell 24*, Pietersen 0*.

0502: Over 15 Pietersen is beaten by his second ball from Clark, but then keeps the rest out well enough.

England 2nd Inns, 55-2, Bell 24*, Pietersen 0*.

0459: Kevin Pietersen is the new man in, and the Australians will probably look to his usual early weakness outside off stump and full.

0458: WICKET

A Strauss lbw b Clark 24

Strauss is beaten outside off stump, then Clark gets a fuller one to nip back and strike him in front. Was pitching on leg, and would probably have hit the same. Good call from Aleem Dar, England in trouble....again.

0455: Over 14 Strauss plays carefully at McGrath's first couple, then flashes at a short and wide one, and it goes through fourth slip for four. Strauss then badly mis-times a hook, but it goes high over the slips and nobody can make the catch, but Ponting has to make a scrambling save at the boundary. Bell then gets a rising ball that beats him all ends up outside off.

England 2nd Inns, 55-1, Strauss 24*, Bell 24*.

0451: McGrath will start for Australia in place of Shane Warne.

0450: Over 13 Strauss and Bell trade singles, all off their pads. Smart running from this pair, who will be looking to put on a big partnership. Five from the over.

England 2nd Inns, 48-1, Strauss 18*, Bell 24*.

0446: The teams are out for what could be an intruiging evening session.

TEA - England 43-1, Australia are still 59 ahead.

0428: Over 12 Bell, who has been very circumspect against McGrath, goes after Warne straight away. He dances down and on-drives the first one for four, misses out on a long-hop then clips the third through mid-wicket for another boundary.The next couple are defended, but the last ball is a leg-stump full toss and is treated accordingly - another four. 12 off the over for Bell, and that's tea.

England 2nd Inns, 43-1, Strauss 15*, Bell 23*.

0425: Warne will bowl the last over before tea.

0424: Over 11 Clark beats Strauss with a great ball first up. He then has a great shout for lbw, but it might have pitched outside leg and Strauss may have got an inside edge on it. Very close though.

England 2nd Inns, 31-1, Strauss 15*, Bell 11*.

0420: Among all the sentimentality surrounding Warne and McGrath, it could be forgotten that neither has been Australia's best bowler in this series. Stuart Clark comes on to replace Lee.

0419: Over 10 Bell tucks a single off his hips, then Strauss plays a nice drive into the covers, but Clarke makes a good stop to restrict England to one. McGrath then beats the edge a couple of times at the end of the over.

England 2nd Inns, 31-1, Strauss 15*, Bell 11*.

0415: Over 9 Bell takes a single to mid-on, then Strauss plays a nice leg glance four a fine boundary. Lee then slips in the first bouncer since he struck Strauss in the third over, but the opener ducks comfortably underneath.

England 2nd Inns, 29-1, Strauss 14*, Bell 10*.

0410: Over 8 Strauss neatly tucks one off his pads for two, and the opener seems to have recovered, despite two physical marks from his blow to the head; one red mark on his neck, and the grille of his helmet is still bent. Strauss then leaves one that clips the top of his pads, and although the Australians want lbw, it was going well over.

England 2nd Inns, 24-1, Strauss 10*, Bell 9*.

0406: Over 7 Strauss does well to dig out a yorker for a single. Bell then gets another streaky boundary, this time all along the ground through gully. Bell survives a shout from Lee for lbw, but that looked like it was going down leg, and the replays confirm.

England 2nd Inns, 22-1, Strauss 8*, Bell 9*.

0401: Over 6 Bell looks to leave most things from McGrath, and succeeds before he is tempted into a cut shot that he edges just over the slips. Strauss' similar effort was controlled, this one wasn't.

England 2nd Inns, 17-1, Strauss 7*, Bell 5*.

0357: Over 5 Strauss shows no ill effects from his blow to the head, as he guides a good shot over the slips for four. He then gets two from a back-foot push through the covers.

England 2nd Inns, 13-1, Strauss 7*, Bell 1*.

0353: Over 4 McGrath nips one back at Bell first ball, but the rest of the over passes without too much bother for the England man.

England 2nd Inns, 7-1, Strauss 1*, Bell 1*.

0348: Strauss is going to continue, and the physio must have been very sure that he was OK to carry on. Next ball Lee shouts long and hard for a catch down the leg side, but it missed the bat by a long way and flicked off Strauss' thigh.

England 2nd Inns, 7-1, Strauss 1*, Bell 1*.

0344: Over 3 Bell gets off the mark with his first ball down to fine leg, then Strauss gets hit on the head by a quick, quick Lee delivery. Langer - who was concussed by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer last year, is first on the scene to see how the England opener is.

England 2nd Inns, 6-1, Strauss 1*, Bell 1*.

0340: WICKET

A Cook c Gilchrist b Lee 4

Dreadful start for England. Cook goes for a hook shot that was probably there, but perhaps not at this stage of the innings. He top edges and Gilchrist pouches one that he could have caught with his eyes closed.

0339: Over 2 Cook is beaten by two outside the off stump, then replies well by cutting through point for four. Only two slips and a gully for a man with an admitted weakness outside off. Baffling.

England 2nd Inns, 4-0, Strauss 0*, Cook 4*.

0339: Over 2 Cook is beaten by two outside the off stump, then replies well by cutting through point for four. Only two slips and a gully for a man with an admitted weakness outside off. Baffling.

England 2nd Inns, 4-0, Strauss 0*, Cook 4*.

0334: McGrath will open from the other end for the very last time in Test cricket. As a cricket fan I'm sad, as an England fan I'm relieved.

0333: Over 1 Lee opens for Australia, and all six balls are wide of off stump and he lets them go.

England 2nd Inns, 0-0, Strauss 0*, Cook 0*.

0330: The teams are out, and Australia look seriously pumped up. Could be something to do with Collingwood trying to chip away at Warne during his innings. It will be fun when the Durham man comes in.

End of Australia 1st Inns - 393 all out, they have a lead of 102.

0318: WICKET

S Warne st Read b Panesar 71

Warne, knowing that he has only McGrath at the other end, goes for a big sweep, but finds the fielder. Next ball he comes down the pitch, completely misses, and Read does the rest.

0316: Over 96 McGrath does his job by surviving the over, and now the fun might begin.

Australia 1st Inns, 393-9, Warne 71*, McGrath 0*

0312: McGrath comes out to a massive ovation from his home ground. Never has a number eleven been so heartily welcomed.

0311: WICKET

S Clark c Pietersen b Mahmood 35

Pietersen misses another run-out attempt as Clark goes for a quick single. He then makes amends by catching a Clark top-edged pull after Warne takes another single. If nothing else, with McGrath next in and Warne 29 short of three figures, the pace could get even quicker.

0309: For reasons best known to him, Flintoff has brought back Mahmood.

0308: Over 95 Warne skips down the pitch and thwacks one straight down the pitch. That century is in sight. He goes another four closer with a lovely cut to the fence. This has been a wonderful innings. The lead is exactly 100.

Australia 1st Inns, 391-8, Warne 70*, Clark 34*

0304: Panesar comes on for Mahmood, as Flintoff looks to restrict this lead which is rapidly approaching the 100 mark.

0303: Over 94 Warne plays through the off side to bring up the fifty partnership, the Clark casually pulls for four. Harmison then pulls a threatening one from nowhere, getting up and around Clark's throat, who then smacks one just over Pitersen at mid-off, and Panesar makes something of a meal of stopping the boundary.

Australia 1st Inns, 382-8, Warne 62*, Clark 33*

0257: Over 93 Clark is almost run out after pushing to mid-on, where Harmison misses the stumps with Clark well short. Warne gets a leg-bye, then Clark does well to spot the slower ball and heaves it over the covers, but gets just one. Warne then plays a beautfiul late cut through third man for four. Another expensive over from Mahmood.

Australia 1st Inns, 373-8, Warne 61*, Clark 25*

0254: Mahmood comes on for Anderson, and with Warne firmly in the mood, this could be an error.

0253: Over 92 Warne takes a single, then after a couple of hearty swings Clark gets three through the covers. Warne ends the over with two from a nice back-foot push through mid-off.

Australia 1st Inns, 366-8, Warne 57*, Clark 23*

0248: Over 91 Clark takes three to give Warne the strike, and he reaches his fifty with a slap over the off side for four. Next ball he gets a big leading edge which lands about 30 yards in the opposite direction to which he was aiming. Clark is beaten then drives down the ground for two.

Australia 1st Inns, 360-8, Warne 54*, Clark 20*

0242: Over 90 Clark hoiks a back foot shot over mid-off for three, then Warne scurries through for a single. Clark takes a leg-bye, and Warne - looking for his fifty - is beaten a couple of times outside off stump.

Australia 1st Inns, 350-8, Warne 49*, Clark 15*

0239: Harmison is back into the attack for Flintoff.

0238: Over 89 Warne plays a nice shot to the cover boundary which Pietersen flings in, Read does well to stop any overthrows, and the next ball is a single to the same area. Clark pushes a couple through the covers, then is beaten by another excellent Anderson ball. Clark clips off his legs, then Warne tries a smear through the leg side but gets just two. Australia lead by a useful 54.

Australia 1st Inns, 345-8, Warne 48*, Clark 12*

0234: Over 88 Interesting 'shot' from Clark. He tries to pull a short Flintoff delivery that Read takes at head height in front of first slip. He misses horribly. He then hits a far more effective leg glance for a single, and Flintoff beats Warne with a jaffa outside off. Warne retains the strike with a quick single to gully.

Australia 1st Inns, 337-8, Warne 43*, Clark 9*

0229: Over 87 Clark misjudges a couple from Anderson, firstly going far too early on a push and it loops short of mid-on, then hoiks and misses at one outside off. He then gets off strike with a single just wide of mid-on.

Australia 1st Inns, 335-8, Warne 42*, Clark 8*

0225: Over 86 Flintoff disturbs the pitch in a big way with one that beats Clark outside off, then the next one bounces and nips back, striking Clark on the thigh and looping to Pietersen, who half-heartedly appeals. Clark gets a single of his pads.

Australia 1st Inns, 332-8, Warne 42*, Clark 6*

0221: Over 85 Warne takes a single off the third ball, then Anderson leaves Clark groping with one that misses both the bat and the off stump by a whisker, then repeats the trick with a late outswinger next ball. Anderson then lets Clark off the hook by straying on to his legs and giving him a single.

Australia 1st Inns, 331-8, Warne 41*, Clark 4*

0218: Over 84 Clark almost goes after his first ball, he plays round the corner for two, and Anderson's throw very nearly runs the new man out. The batsmen swap singles to close the over.

Australia 1st Inns, 329-8, Warne 40*, Clark 3*

0214: Stuart Clark is the new man in for Australia.

0213: WICKET

B Lee c Read b Flintoff 5

Flintoff gets one to go past Lee's outside edge with the second ball, then bowls an identical ball which Lee obligingly nibbles through for an easy catch for Read. Another early wicket for England.

0211: The teams are out for the afternoon session, and Flintoff will continue with the news ball.

LUNCH: Australia 1st Inns, 325-7. Warne 40*, Lee 5*.

0132: Over 83 Anderson getting a wee bit of shape from the first ball of the last over before lunch, then Lee cracks one off the back foot for a boundary. Anderson then gets one to bounce and swing past the outside edge of Warne after Lee takes a single, and that's lunch.

Australia 1st Inns, 325-7, Warne 40*, Lee 5*

0128: Over 82 Flintoff fires the firstcouple down the leg side, then the third squares Warne up and it whistles past the edge. Warne clips one off his toes and Mahmood does well to cut off the boundary and keep them down to two.

Australia 1st Inns, 320-7, Warne 40*, Lee 0*

0121:Brett Lee is the new man in for Australia, and Andrew Flintoff comes into the attack.

0120: WICKET

A Gilchrist c Read b Anderson 62

Warne plays the new ball out to the off-side sweeper for a single off the back foot, then Gilchrist gets an absolute shocker from Billy Bowden. He chases a wide one from Anderson, strikes the ground with the bat and gets nowhere near the ball. A sad end to an excellent, typically Gilchristian innings. Even Read looked a little sheepish both appealing for and celebrating that wicket.

0117: Jimmy Anderson is coming on for Harmison, as the new ball is taken. Could go either way this.

0116: Over 81 It's deja-vu all over again as Warne launches a slog sweep for six over mid-wicket, then Monty comes back well. However, the next ball is shorter and wider and Warne cuts to the fence, then Warne pushes another single to the off side. After every scoring stroke Warne is turning to Collingwood at slip to keep him posted on proceedings. Is his first Test hundred on here?

Australia 1st Inns, 317-6, Gilchrist 62*, Warne 37*

0113: Over 80 Gilchrist skies one towards Panesar at fine-leg, but it drops just short of the spinner, and they just take one. Warne grabs another single through mid-wicket, then Gilchrist goes for another one over point, but doesn't get hold of it and picks up two.

Australia 1st Inns, 306-6, Gilchrist 62*, Warne 26*

0108: Over 79 Warne greets a new Panesar over by belting one straight for four. Panesar then bowls intelligently wider to avoid a pre-meditated slog-sweep. Warne engages in a massive pot-kettle mix-up by complaining about some nasty words from Collingwood at first slip, and Aleem Dar has to step in. Panesar then rips a great one past Warne's outside edge, before he steers through the leg side for two.

Australia 1st Inns, 302-6, Gilchrist 59*, Warne 25*

0104: Over 78 Ah, things are never dull with Warnie. He smacks one out to the off boundary, where Bell does superbly to flick the ball back, only into Anderson's shins and it goes over the ropes. He then takes a quick single (always risky for someone of his 'physique'), and seems more worried about avoiding the throw than running his bat in. He would've been out if Flintoff had hit the stumps. Gilchrist then shows his class by steering a pair of late cuts to the third man boundary.

Australia 1st Inns, 296-6, Gilchrist 59*, Warne 19*

0058: Over 77 The Australian batsmen are itching to get at Panesar, which may just play into his hands. Gilchrist prods one that loops just short of mid-on, then pushes a single into the off side tyo reach his fifty. Lovely bowling from Panesar as he sees Warne lumber down the pitch looking for the big one, and fires in a quicker, shorter one. Good over from Monty.

Australia 1st Inns, 282-6, Gilchrist 50*, Warne 14*

0055: Over 76 Shocking fielding from Mahmood. Gilchrist hits one wide of the off side sweeper, who throws back to the bowler's end as Warne 'scampers' back for the second, but Mahmood casually sticks a hand out in front of the stumps when Warne was well short. Mahmood then tries a slower one, which Gilchrist waits for and hits down the ground for four. He then goes for a big hook out to the boundary, which falls just short of Pietersen, who does well to stop the four. Warne then closes the over with a beautifulstraight drive for four. Expensive over in more ways than one.

Australia 1st Inns, 281-6, Gilchrist 49*, Warne 14*

0055: Over 75 Shocking fielding from Mahmood. Gilchrist hits one wide of the off side sweeper, who throws back to the bowler's end as Warne 'scampers' back for the second, but Mahmood casually sticks a hand out in front of the stumps when Warne was well short. Mahmood then tries a slower one, which Gilchrist waits for and hits down the ground for four. He then goes for a big hook out to the boundary, which falls just short of Pietersen, who does well to stop the four. Warne then closes the over with a beautiful straight drive for four. Expensive over in more ways than one.

Australia 1st Inns, 281-6, Gilchrist 49*, Warne 14*

0050: Over 74 Warne starts in familiar fashion, going for a big sweep, and bottom edges one fine to the boundary. Second ball, he most definately does get hold of it, and it clears the mid-wicket rope for six. Warne goes for another heave, but Panesar intelligently throws a wider one and he misses. Warne then gets the benefit of a poor decision as he clearly gloves one through to Read, but Aleem Dar says no. An eventful to say the least.

Australia 1st Inns, 270-6, Gilchrist 42*, Warne 10*

0045: Shane Warne is the new man, and he comes out to a rapturous reception.

0043: WICKET

A Symonds b Panesar 48

Oh dear. I thought Symonds would perish doing something daft. He looks to launch Panesar over mid-on, comepletely misses and the off stump is knocked back. Poor stuff.

0042: Over 73 Mahmood is looking to mix up his length, pitching some right up and looking for some bounce with a couple of shorter ones. Symonds drops one towards the covers and takes a quick single. Mahmood then gets a quick one to zip past Gilchrist's outside edge, following up by serving up a nice half-volley from a no-ball, and it rockets to the boundary. He tries again next ball, but doesn't quite time it and Cook cuts it off and they take two. In a mixed bag of an over, Gilchrist then narrowly escapes nicking one after trying a late cut.

Australia 1st Inns, 260-5, Symonds 48*, Gilchrist 42*

0036: Over 72 Gilchrist goes aerial, firstly down the ground then towards deep point. He doesn't get hold of either, but still gets three runs from the two balls. Symonds then gets a single from a squirted single into mid-wicket. Monty responds well with some tight bowling at the end of the over.

Australia 1st Inns, 252-5, Symonds 47*, Gilchrist 36*

0033: Over 71 Symonds creams one towards the boundary, but it goes straight to the sweeper on the cover ropes, and just the single is taken. Gilchrist then takes another single off his hips. Symonds his a nice on-drive for a couple past the despairing dive of Harmison.

Australia 1st Inns, 248-5, Symonds 46*, Gilchrist 33*

0029: Over 70 Panesar bounds in, and Gilchrist plays the first couple suspiciously, before taking a single down the ground, then Symonds repeats the trick. A couple more singles see out the over.

Australia 1st Inns, 242-5, Symonds 41*, Gilchrist 32*

0025: Drinks are drunk, and Panesar will replace Harmison.

0020: Over 69 Symonds takes a quick single to Flintoff, deep at mid-off, then Mahmood tries a decent yorker at Gilchrist, who keeps it out safely enough. Gilchrist then gives another quarter-chance by again smacking one low and hard back at the bowler. Gilchrist then tries another pull to a no-ball, but there are men back this time and they just get the single. Symonds leaves the last two and drinks arecalled for.

Australia 1st Inns, 238-5, Symonds 39*, Gilchrist 30*

0015: Over 68 The batsmen trade singles off the first couple, before Gilchrist gives Anderson a quarter-chance at mid-off. It was going very hard, very low and very wide of the bowler, and in fact he did well to get his fingertips to it, and they take two runs. A no-ball is followed by another pair of singles, then Gilchrist smacks one up in the air towards the mid-wicket boundary. It doesn't quite get there, but that rope is so far away that they run four.

Australia 1st Inns, 236-5, Symonds 39*, Gilchrist 29*

0011: Turns out Harmison was just changing ends - he replaces captain Flintoff.

0010: Over 67 Mahmood starts well, firstly with one that goes not too far over the off stump, then bowls a peach that has Symonds playing and missing. Symonds then throws everything at a slightly shorter one that goes just over Anderson at point and to the boundary for four. If you were being ultra-harsh you might say it was a chance, but in the words of Richie Benaud you would've needed Joel Garner standing on Joel Garner's shoulders to get that one. Symonds closes the over with another boundary, this time a classical off drive through the covers.

Australia 1st Inns, 224-5, Symonds 36*, Gilchrist 21*

0006: Sajid Mahmood is on for Harmison, who was given just two overs.

0005: Over 66 Flintoff is in for another one, and it shows how dismal this tour has been for England that this is very encouraging. He gets one to nip in at Gilchrist and it loops off his thigh just short of the slips, then at the first hint of width he cuts one savagely for four.

Australia 1st Inns, 216-5, Symonds 28*, Gilchrist 21*

0000: Over 65 In contrast to Symonds' patience, Gilchrist is looking to score off every ball. Pietersen stops a fine cover drive off the first ball, then he takes a single through a similar area. Symonds then takes a couple through square leg.

Australia 1st Inns, 212-5, Symonds 28*, Gilchrist 17*

2356: Over 64 More promising Flintoff news - he's continuing for his fifth over of the spell. Maybe that ankle is OK this morning. Meanwhile Ponting seems to be picking something off Langer's face on the Australian balcony. Odd. Flintoff bowls a no-ball, then Gilchrist takes a swift single. Flintoff then sticks a couple of short ones in at Symonds, perhaps in an attempt to frustrate the dreadlocked one.

Australia 1st Inns, 209-5, Symonds 26*, Gilchrist 16*

2352: Over 63 Gilchrist pushes into the off side for a single from the first ball. Symonds then fends a couple off before Harmison fires one way down the leg side, which is perhaps a little lucky not to be signalled a wide. Symonds continues his uncharacteristic policy of caution by seeing the rest of the over out. Has he had a flea in his ear from captain Ponting after last night's chaotic final over?

Australia 1st Inns, 207-5, Symonds 26*, Gilchrist 15*

2347: Change of bowling for England, and interestingly Harmison is replacing Anderson, who was starting to be slapped around a little by Gilchrist.

2346: Over 62 Symonds is playing patiently, not laying bat on Flintoff's over unless absolutely neccessary. The final ball of the over squirts off the inside edge, but otherwise it was a relatively uneventful six balls.

Australia 1st Inns, 206-5, Symonds 26*, Gilchrist 14*

2341: Over 61 Gilchrist looks in ominously good touch. He gently pushes at Anderson's second ball and it zips through the covers, but it's cut off and they take three. Great timing.Symonds then clips one off his pads down to Monty at fine leg, and they take a single. Gilchrist flashes at another one but Pietersen restricts them to two from the cover boundary.

Australia 1st Inns, 206-5, Symonds 26*, Gilchrist 14*

2337: Over 60 The good news for England is that Flintoff seems to be getting a bit of swing. The bad news is that he may not stay in the attack long enough to make the most of it. Four overs seems to have been his limit lately, and Harmison is already limbering up. He bowls another tidy over at Symonds, who leaves and prods his way through it. Surely that can't last.

Australia 1st Inns, 200-5, Symonds 25*, Gilchrist 9*

2333: Over 59 Gilchrist flings himself at a wide one from Anderson, which could have gone anywhere. Luckily for the Aussie keeper it flies over the point/gully region and thuds into the boundary boards. Gilchrist then plays a more controlled straight drive for another four to bring the 200 up for the hosts. He then hits probably the best shot of the lot off the last ball, but it's straight at Mahmood at mid-off.

Australia 1st Inns, 200-5, Symonds 25*, Gilchrist 9*

2330: Over 58 Flintoff is bowling a wee bit quicker than he has been in the game previously. Maybe he ate his Wheetabix this morning. Symonds turns one round the corner off his hips for a single, the Gilchrist does the exact same thing two balls later to keep the strike.

Australia 1st Inns, 192-5, Symonds 25*, Gilchrist 1*

2325: Over 57 After the wicket Anderson bowls a tidy if unthreatening over at Gilchrist, and there is no more score.

Australia 1st Inns, 190-5, Symonds 24*, Gilchrist 0*

2321: Adam Gilchrist is the new man in, and Anderson immediately comes around the wicket to him.

2320: WICKET

M Hussey c Read b Anderson 37

Great start for England! The first ball goes down the leg side from Anderson, before he pushes one across Hussey who nibbles outside off stump and edges a low catch to Read.

2319: Jimmy Anderson is rewarded for some fine bowling (in spells) yesterday by opening from the other end.

2318: Over 56 Flintoff starts with an absolute ripper outside off stump, which beats Symonds' edge. The next three pass without too much incident, before Symonds turns one down to fine leg for a couple. The over finishes with a strangled lbw shout. Going well down leg and over.

Australia 1st Inns, 190-4, Hussey 37*, Symonds 24*

2315: Andrew Flintoff will open the bowling for England.

2314: Predictions for the day: Andrew Symonds will get out playing a daft shot. Anderson will mix up some ripping good balls with some absolute stinkers. Panesar will dismiss Mike Hussey after causing him a few problems last night. And England will be batting before the end of the day, and will have lost at least one opener by the close.

Not exactly leaps of faith, I know.

2312: England are on the field and huddling, and are joined by Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds.

2255: The sun is shining brightly Down Under, so (in a world class excerise in fate-tempting) I reckon we should be OK for a full morning's play.

2250: The ground staff are mopping up frantically at the SCG, so play is expected to begin at 2315 GMT.

2241: Forget that - word reaches us that there has been heavy rain in Sydney, so a 2300 start looks unlikely at the moment.

2230: Play will start at 2300 GMT in Sydney to make up for the time lost in yesterday's rain break.