This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6182630.stm

The article has changed 47 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Live - Australia v England Live - Australia v England
(10 minutes later)
Glenn McGrath struck a vital blow for Australia by removing Kevin Pietersen on the third morning of the opening Ashes Test against England in Brisbane. Australia dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in successive overs to leave England on the ropes in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Pietersen, who had earlier been dropped by Stuart Clark off Brett Lee, offered no stroke to a ball angled into his pads and was given out lbw for 16. Pietersen had an early let-off when Stuart Clark failed to hold on to a miscued pull running back from mid-on.
It left England on 78-4 replying to Australia's massive 602-9 declared. But he was soon on his way after offering no stroke to a ball from Glenn McGrath and was given out lbw for 16.
And Andrew Flintoff made an uncertain start to his innings, nibbling at a ball which just missed the edge. Skipper Flintoff's innings lasted three balls as he was caught behind off Lee for a third-ball duck.
LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)
By Ben DirsBy Ben Dirs
ENGLAND FIRST INNINGSENGLAND FIRST INNINGS
"Ashley Giles said it was quiet in the England dressing room before play started on the first day. I reckon it will be even quieter now. Not only are England getting beaten, they're getting humiliated..." Vic Marks on TMS
1105: Jones and Bell have some respite at last - some fat bloke called Warne is into the attack. Apologies, I've been reduced to name-calling. Bell plays an ugly stroke first up and the ball nearly finds a way through. Bell is beaten by a fizzer next up but paddles one round the corner to get off the strike. Jones gets a single down to fine leg. 85-5
1100: Just one from McGrath's over and the England bats get some respite as the giant drinks vehicle comes crashing over the boundary rope. 83-5
1055: Jones squeezes a couple into the on-side to get off the mark and survives the over. 82-51055: Jones squeezes a couple into the on-side to get off the mark and survives the over. 82-5
1050: WICKET England 79-5 (Flintoff 0) Flintoff out for a big fat duck, caught behind by Gilchrist off Lee. Poor shot by the England skipper, who gets neither back nor forward. England could struggle to see day four now.1050: WICKET England 79-5 (Flintoff 0) Flintoff out for a big fat duck, caught behind by Gilchrist off Lee. Poor shot by the England skipper, who gets neither back nor forward. England could struggle to see day four now.
1046: WICKET England 78-4 (Pietersen 16) Disaster for England as McGrath traps Pietersen in front playing no shot. Fine bowling by Pigeon, who got the ball to jag back a foot or so. Flintoff almost nibbles one behind first up. Two hundred looks a good score for England now.1046: WICKET England 78-4 (Pietersen 16) Disaster for England as McGrath traps Pietersen in front playing no shot. Fine bowling by Pigeon, who got the ball to jag back a foot or so. Flintoff almost nibbles one behind first up. Two hundred looks a good score for England now.
1045: Pietersen squirts a square drive away for a couple and is then beaten by one that keeps low. Three from the over, lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd though. 78-31045: Pietersen squirts a square drive away for a couple and is then beaten by one that keeps low. Three from the over, lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd though. 78-3
"Australia may be the better team, but if you give Pietersen a life he goes on to punish you. Remember Warne last year!" Bill from Ashford in the TMS inbox"Australia may be the better team, but if you give Pietersen a life he goes on to punish you. Remember Warne last year!" Bill from Ashford in the TMS inbox
Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.ukEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
1039: A maiden over from McGrath. Bell solidly in behind everything. 75-31039: A maiden over from McGrath. Bell solidly in behind everything. 75-3
"If you stay at the crease and don't give your wicket away you're bound to get runs. I've never known anyone score runs in the pavilion..." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS"If you stay at the crease and don't give your wicket away you're bound to get runs. I've never known anyone score runs in the pavilion..." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS
1034: Lee strays on to Pietersen's pads and the ball is turned away for a couple. Pietersen then plays one of the most ridiculous shots I have ever seen, attempting a hook which balloons to mid-on where Clark, running towards the fence, makes an absolute hash of it. Not sure he even got a finger to it. Very un-Australian. Calm down KP. Bell digs out a yorker for a single and Pietersen gets one run into the off-side. Seven from the over and England hobble on. 75-31034: Lee strays on to Pietersen's pads and the ball is turned away for a couple. Pietersen then plays one of the most ridiculous shots I have ever seen, attempting a hook which balloons to mid-on where Clark, running towards the fence, makes an absolute hash of it. Not sure he even got a finger to it. Very un-Australian. Calm down KP. Bell digs out a yorker for a single and Pietersen gets one run into the off-side. Seven from the over and England hobble on. 75-3
1030: Pietersen plays his first expansive stroke of the day, a doozy of a drive through the covers for three. Into double figures. England hanging in there. 68-31030: Pietersen plays his first expansive stroke of the day, a doozy of a drive through the covers for three. Into double figures. England hanging in there. 68-3
Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)
"What we need to have a hope of even drawing this Test is for Bell and KP to get to tea and just battle to save it." Matt texts from Bridgwater"What we need to have a hope of even drawing this Test is for Bell and KP to get to tea and just battle to save it." Matt texts from Bridgwater
1025: Bell very nearly plays on, attempting to pull his bat out of the way and the ball ricocheting onto his pads. Bell gets the first four of the morning, gliding Lee to the third man boundary. Bell then plays a silly shot, trying to drive on the up. The Aussies will feel they should have rooted one out in these first few overs. 65-31025: Bell very nearly plays on, attempting to pull his bat out of the way and the ball ricocheting onto his pads. Bell gets the first four of the morning, gliding Lee to the third man boundary. Bell then plays a silly shot, trying to drive on the up. The Aussies will feel they should have rooted one out in these first few overs. 65-3
How to listen to TMSHow to listen to TMS
"They used to say Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Lillee don't get ya, Thomson must. That won't happen now, unless you find us in the bar..." Former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS"They used to say Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Lillee don't get ya, Thomson must. That won't happen now, unless you find us in the bar..." Former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS
1020: Pietersen plays an ugly shot, driving and getting a thick inside edge to mid-wicket. McGrath beats Pietersen - nervy times for England. 60-31020: Pietersen plays an ugly shot, driving and getting a thick inside edge to mid-wicket. McGrath beats Pietersen - nervy times for England. 60-3
1017: Lee digs in the first bouncer of the day and Bell plays it well, almost limboing underneath it. A bit of eyeballing from the blonde fast bowler, and Bell is happy to return in kind. 60-31017: Lee digs in the first bouncer of the day and Bell plays it well, almost limboing underneath it. A bit of eyeballing from the blonde fast bowler, and Bell is happy to return in kind. 60-3
1013: Pietersen is beaten outside the off-stump - it hit one of those huge canyons running through the pitch. Umpire Bowden signals two leg-byes after McGrath gets one to duck back a mile off another crack. That must have jagged back three feet. Good luck batters...59-31013: Pietersen is beaten outside the off-stump - it hit one of those huge canyons running through the pitch. Umpire Bowden signals two leg-byes after McGrath gets one to duck back a mile off another crack. That must have jagged back three feet. Good luck batters...59-3
1008: Lee finds Bell's edge, but the ball falls well short of second slip. Didn't really need to play at that one. Maiden over. 57-31008: Lee finds Bell's edge, but the ball falls well short of second slip. Didn't really need to play at that one. Maiden over. 57-3
1003: Players are out, McGrath has first go to Pietersen, and the batsman leaves it outside off-stump. Pietersen turns one away for a single. Bell tucks McGrath away to mid-wicket and gets three easy runs. I've just seen a picture of Mike Atherton sticking his fingers in a crack on the pitch - you could hide a jumbo jet in it. Four from the over. 57-31003: Players are out, McGrath has first go to Pietersen, and the batsman leaves it outside off-stump. Pietersen turns one away for a single. Bell tucks McGrath away to mid-wicket and gets three easy runs. I've just seen a picture of Mike Atherton sticking his fingers in a crack on the pitch - you could hide a jumbo jet in it. Four from the over. 57-3
Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)
"To stand a chance we need two partnerships of at least 180 on a pitch with cracks as wide as your hand. 1-0 Aussies." Graeme texts from Southampton"To stand a chance we need two partnerships of at least 180 on a pitch with cracks as wide as your hand. 1-0 Aussies." Graeme texts from Southampton
"We're hoping the pitch will deteriorate. Pietersen and Bell are class players but we've got plans for them and hopefully we'll bowl well and get then cheaply. There's still pace and bounce in this pitch, it quickened up yesterday, so there'll definitely be some short stuff. Warney says he loves bowling here because he gets spin and extra bounce. He'll bowl a fair few overs." Australia's Mike Hussey in confident mood"We're hoping the pitch will deteriorate. Pietersen and Bell are class players but we've got plans for them and hopefully we'll bowl well and get then cheaply. There's still pace and bounce in this pitch, it quickened up yesterday, so there'll definitely be some short stuff. Warney says he loves bowling here because he gets spin and extra bounce. He'll bowl a fair few overs." Australia's Mike Hussey in confident mood
0955: Nerves pretty much gone now as I fully expect the Aussies to be halfway through our second innings by stumps. My God, I'm turning into my nan, who was so pessimistic she was genuinely shocked to find herself still alive every morning.0955: Nerves pretty much gone now as I fully expect the Aussies to be halfway through our second innings by stumps. My God, I'm turning into my nan, who was so pessimistic she was genuinely shocked to find herself still alive every morning.
Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.ukEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
0941: Morning/evening ladies and gentlemen. If there are any leaders of rogue states reading this who are currently holding English nationals, I suggest you stick them in a very small room and make them watch day three of the first Ashes Test for the next seven hours. It's sure to be painful.0941: Morning/evening ladies and gentlemen. If there are any leaders of rogue states reading this who are currently holding English nationals, I suggest you stick them in a very small room and make them watch day three of the first Ashes Test for the next seven hours. It's sure to be painful.