Clarke is class here.
New ball due shortly. I wonder will the umpires offer them the light even though they agreed to play under floodlights before the tour. England and Wales need FLintoff to do the damage with the new ball again.
A wicket before the close would be big for England. If Australia hang on though they’ll have given themselves (and the draw) a chance.
Not really following but should England not have had this test wrapped up?
Well they made an aggressive declaration to help them but they had a couple of spells of bad weather over the time so far and now they’re meeting a stubborn middle order from Australia. They’re still on top and favourites but they’re a while away from closing it out.
This is a very important spell though and they’re getting half chances.
Clarke is playing some great stuff today, his wicket will be the key to the match
Are E&W hampered by the fact they’re using the pace bowlers?
Bad light has stopped play at 313/5. Quicker the bowler the harder it is to see the ball so umpires tend to offer the light in these situations. England and Wales had just taken the new ball so they weren’t going to voluntarily have Swann and Colingwood or someone bowling at the two ends. I’d say they’ll have been happy enough to come off there and compose themselves overnight. I still reckon they’re in the box seat but the two lads have batted magnificently to give Australia a fighting chance.
England need to break this partnership and they should roll over the tail pretty quickly. 209 still a lot of runs to have to amass on Day 5 to win.
Disappointing session after tea from England. An element of going through the motions just waiting for the new ball to arrive.
Surprised you haven’t noted some appalling umpiring decisions there Evo.
EW must be getting a bit worried now. If Clarke and Haddin can stick around for a while on Day 5, there’s hope. EW should have had this wrapped up 2 sessions ago though in fairness.
Isn’t test match cricket brilliant?
Strauss should probably have let Freddie have a bash for a few overs this morning. Another quick fire 60-70 runs like Prior tagged on yesterday after tea would have made the game absolutely safe with still more than ample time in five and a half seesions to bowl them out.
With the bowlers refreshed overnight, England should make full use of the new ball in the morning and an early breakthrough should see it wrapped up fairly quickly. As has been said though if the two boys were to put on another 80/90 runs, it would be squeaky bum time.
Big concern for England is the fitness of Pietersen & Freddie. Both of them carrying injuries and may not play any great role in the remaining three tests.
Today’s cricket could be magnificent. Off we go.
I will let the tags speak for me on this matter.
Maiden from Jimmy Anderson first up with a couple of big appeals. Australia will be looking to see off the first bursts from Anderson and Flintoff with the new ball.
Freddie gets Haddin in his first over of the day.
Test match cricket - there’s not much to beat it when it’s played like this.
Ah fuck it.
Flintoff’s bowling sensationally here. How can he retire when he’s bowling like this? 93 mph at the moment.
Mitchell Johnson is a very good lower order batsman. They need to get through him before the task will look more straightforward. Broad on for Anderson here.
Swann’s just bowled Clarke.
Huuuuuuuuuuge wicket for England and Wales.
Stunning knock from Michael Clarke - I’m still astounded by Rocko’s claim in 2005 that Ian Bell would ultimately turn out to be the better player of the two.
Ah fuck it again.
Fair play to Clarke, smashing innings. How Bandage wished he had my talent spotting abilities.
Bandage:
Willo Flood better than McGeady
Ian Bell better than Michael Clarke