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England made a dismal start to their attempt to bat out a draw in the first Ashes Test when they lost two wickets at the start of their second innings.England made a dismal start to their attempt to bat out a draw in the first Ashes Test when they lost two wickets at the start of their second innings.
Australia declared on 202-1 after Justin Langer had reached his 23rd Test century, giving them a lead of 647.Australia declared on 202-1 after Justin Langer had reached his 23rd Test century, giving them a lead of 647.
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook made a solid start for England but Strauss then hooked Stuart Clark to fine leg.Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook made a solid start for England but Strauss then hooked Stuart Clark to fine leg.
He went for 11 and Ian Bell was lbw for nought to Shane Warne three overs later as England went in to lunch on 43-2.He went for 11 and Ian Bell was lbw for nought to Shane Warne three overs later as England went in to lunch on 43-2.
LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)
By Ben DirsBy Ben Dirs
Lunch interval 1245: Cook dabs the first ball from Warne after lunch for two and repeats the shot for another couple. Cook is then soooo close to being cleaned up, the ball gripping, fizzing back and flicking the batsman's pad - umpire Bucknor says it was high. Don't go leaving those Cooky... 47-2
"Sorry the tea is rubbish. Unbelievably, here in Arlington, Texas I can find Tetley and PG Tips in some of the local stores, so I'm happy. No kettle though, so a saucepan must suffice." Peter Williams in the TMS inbox
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"Don't disregard McGrath and Warne being back in England in 2009..." Former Somerset skipper and cricket writer Peter Roebuck on TMS
"I'm having a delicious mug of tea and a Fry's Turkish Delight. Yummy. Can't work out which is worse: English cricket or English rugby. Now there's a conundrum!" David in the TMS inbox"I'm having a delicious mug of tea and a Fry's Turkish Delight. Yummy. Can't work out which is worse: English cricket or English rugby. Now there's a conundrum!" David in the TMS inbox
1232: Mike Atherton on the box having a close look at the cracks. Hope he's got his climbing gear with him, he could fall down one of those. Not sure England can blame any of their wickets on them though - Strauss' was a shocker and Bell just missed a slider.1232: Mike Atherton on the box having a close look at the cracks. Hope he's got his climbing gear with him, he could fall down one of those. Not sure England can blame any of their wickets on them though - Strauss' was a shocker and Bell just missed a slider.
"I am at the Gabba with a smuggled glass of Penfolds Grange: you need fine wine if you're forced to watch batting like this." David Wolfson on TMS"I am at the Gabba with a smuggled glass of Penfolds Grange: you need fine wine if you're forced to watch batting like this." David Wolfson on TMS
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"Working nights on a North Sea oil platform our weather is like the England batting, dark and dismal and the food's as bad. We'd settle for your Pringles right now..." Joe in theTMS inbox"Working nights on a North Sea oil platform our weather is like the England batting, dark and dismal and the food's as bad. We'd settle for your Pringles right now..." Joe in theTMS inbox
1201: Cook gets a single and it's Collingwood to face Clark again and he is giving me kittens. He gets squared-up a couple of times and then plays a dreadful airy drive at the last ball before lunch. A cup of very, very bad tea in a polystyrene cup for me and maybe a mini tube of Pringles - what you lot having? 43-21201: Cook gets a single and it's Collingwood to face Clark again and he is giving me kittens. He gets squared-up a couple of times and then plays a dreadful airy drive at the last ball before lunch. A cup of very, very bad tea in a polystyrene cup for me and maybe a mini tube of Pringles - what you lot having? 43-2
"I had doubts about Collingwood's ability to play Test cricket. On the sub-continent he played well and proved me wrong, but on quicker wickets against high quality seam bowling, I'm still not convinced." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS"I had doubts about Collingwood's ability to play Test cricket. On the sub-continent he played well and proved me wrong, but on quicker wickets against high quality seam bowling, I'm still not convinced." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS
1157: Collingwood tucks Warne away for a single. Cook is then almost cleaned up by Warne, the Essex man shaping to cut and the ball keeping low out of the footmarks. One from the over. I couldn't really give a monkey's any more - I hate cricket, I've never liked it and I never will... 43-21157: Collingwood tucks Warne away for a single. Cook is then almost cleaned up by Warne, the Essex man shaping to cut and the ball keeping low out of the footmarks. One from the over. I couldn't really give a monkey's any more - I hate cricket, I've never liked it and I never will... 43-2
1153: Clark has Collingwood fencing at one, but the Durham man just yanks his bat out of the way. Collingwood is then squared up by a snorter - not much footwork there. Not being mean, but Colly is looking like a number eight at the moment. He prods at one and is almost caught by Martyn at short cover before being struck on the pad. He gets off strike with a single. That wasn't pleasant viewing. 42-21153: Clark has Collingwood fencing at one, but the Durham man just yanks his bat out of the way. Collingwood is then squared up by a snorter - not much footwork there. Not being mean, but Colly is looking like a number eight at the moment. He prods at one and is almost caught by Martyn at short cover before being struck on the pad. He gets off strike with a single. That wasn't pleasant viewing. 42-2
1149: Collingwood nurdles Warne away for one. Warne goes straight through Cook like a dose of salts. 41-21149: Collingwood nurdles Warne away for one. Warne goes straight through Cook like a dose of salts. 41-2
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"Bring them home now! Bunch of prima donnas who believed their own hype. They are probably missing loads of photoshoots while they are out there." Rich texts from Wellingborough"Bring them home now! Bunch of prima donnas who believed their own hype. They are probably missing loads of photoshoots while they are out there." Rich texts from Wellingborough
1145: Cook shows Strauss how to play the pull shot, right over the top of it and sending the ball to the deep mid-wicket boundary. 40-21145: Cook shows Strauss how to play the pull shot, right over the top of it and sending the ball to the deep mid-wicket boundary. 40-2
1138: WICKET England 36-2 (Bell 0)Bell out for a duck, Warne trapping him in front with a slider, or whatever it calls it these days. Bell got a decent stride in, but umpire Bucknor was well within his rights to give it out. Collingwood next man in and England are now like a boxer in the final few rounds of a championship fight, knees sagging under a hail of blows.1138: WICKET England 36-2 (Bell 0)Bell out for a duck, Warne trapping him in front with a slider, or whatever it calls it these days. Bell got a decent stride in, but umpire Bucknor was well within his rights to give it out. Collingwood next man in and England are now like a boxer in the final few rounds of a championship fight, knees sagging under a hail of blows.
1137: Cook attempts to pull one from Clark that keeps low. Did it hit a crack? Cook's looking for the pull all the time against Clark - not sure that's particularly intelligent...maiden over. 36-11137: Cook attempts to pull one from Clark that keeps low. Did it hit a crack? Cook's looking for the pull all the time against Clark - not sure that's particularly intelligent...maiden over. 36-1
1132: McGrath back on the field. Apparently he's been having treatment on a heal injury. Cook leans back and cuts Warne away for two before flicking a full-bunger through mid-wicket for four. Cook then calls Bell through for a single and Bell has to slide in. Not clever, not clever at all. 36-11132: McGrath back on the field. Apparently he's been having treatment on a heal injury. Cook leans back and cuts Warne away for two before flicking a full-bunger through mid-wicket for four. Cook then calls Bell through for a single and Bell has to slide in. Not clever, not clever at all. 36-1
1126: WICKET England 29-1 (Strauss 11)Strauss gone - pulling Clark down the sub's throat at fine-leg. What an absolute wally brain, he's gifted his wicket once again.1126: WICKET England 29-1 (Strauss 11)Strauss gone - pulling Clark down the sub's throat at fine-leg. What an absolute wally brain, he's gifted his wicket once again.
"Warne, a mass of fair hair. Not sure how much of it is his, but I think some of it still is..." Jonathan Agnew on TMS"Warne, a mass of fair hair. Not sure how much of it is his, but I think some of it still is..." Jonathan Agnew on TMS
1122: Warne into the attack now and he'll get a good few overs in before lunch. Don't think Cook batted against Warne in England's first dig. He copes OK and it's a maiden. 29-01122: Warne into the attack now and he'll get a good few overs in before lunch. Don't think Cook batted against Warne in England's first dig. He copes OK and it's a maiden. 29-0
"Mark Ramprakash didn't just dance a Waltz - it was a Viennese Waltz, and it was absolutely gorgeous, both the dance and Mark 'The Hips' Ramprakash!" SJ in the TMS inbox"Mark Ramprakash didn't just dance a Waltz - it was a Viennese Waltz, and it was absolutely gorgeous, both the dance and Mark 'The Hips' Ramprakash!" SJ in the TMS inbox
1118: Lee bounces Cook and the Essex opener turns it away for four. Cook then tickles one down to fine-leg for one. Strauss almost has a nibble at one, but pulls his bat out of the way at the last moment. McGrath's off at the moment, along with Punter Ponting. 29-01118: Lee bounces Cook and the Essex opener turns it away for four. Cook then tickles one down to fine-leg for one. Strauss almost has a nibble at one, but pulls his bat out of the way at the last moment. McGrath's off at the moment, along with Punter Ponting. 29-0
1113: Clark is on for McGrath and there's just a single from the over, Strauss supplying it. 24-01113: Clark is on for McGrath and there's just a single from the over, Strauss supplying it. 24-0
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"Against all the odds, I feel that England can possibly make the Aussies sweat. A bit more application and determination could see to that, who knows..." An optimistic AD via text"Against all the odds, I feel that England can possibly make the Aussies sweat. A bit more application and determination could see to that, who knows..." An optimistic AD via text
1107: Cook is beaten by Lee. Lee comes over all macho and threatens to throw down Cook's stumps. Cook, with his economical technique, on-drives for one and Strauss fends one away for a single. Ground filling up now - there were plenty of empty seats this morning. Cook wafts at one and misses. Good nudging and nurdling by the England openers, keeping the scroreboard ticking over. 23-01107: Cook is beaten by Lee. Lee comes over all macho and threatens to throw down Cook's stumps. Cook, with his economical technique, on-drives for one and Strauss fends one away for a single. Ground filling up now - there were plenty of empty seats this morning. Cook wafts at one and misses. Good nudging and nurdling by the England openers, keeping the scroreboard ticking over. 23-0
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"I think England will keep a few wickets in hand until teatime tomorrow and then think about going for the win..." Vic Marks on TMS"I think England will keep a few wickets in hand until teatime tomorrow and then think about going for the win..." Vic Marks on TMS
1102: The Aussie think McGrath has got Cook, but umpire Bucknor decides the ball flicked the pad rather than the bat. Good decision - both umps have had a decent match so far. Cook cuts for two and then nurdles into the on-side for one. Strauss is beaten outside the off-stump. God, McGrath is annoying. 18-01102: The Aussie think McGrath has got Cook, but umpire Bucknor decides the ball flicked the pad rather than the bat. Good decision - both umps have had a decent match so far. Cook cuts for two and then nurdles into the on-side for one. Strauss is beaten outside the off-stump. God, McGrath is annoying. 18-0
1057: Lee strays on to Cook's pads and the Essex man dabs him away for one. Strauss plays an identical shot for four, the first boundary of the day. 14-01057: Lee strays on to Cook's pads and the Essex man dabs him away for one. Strauss plays an identical shot for four, the first boundary of the day. 14-0
1053: McGrath gets one past Cook's bat. McGrath then strays on to Cook's pads and England get a leg-bye. 7-01053: McGrath gets one past Cook's bat. McGrath then strays on to Cook's pads and England get a leg-bye. 7-0
"The great Richard Hadlee, the greatest line and length bowler I ever saw, I saw him bowl in the nets a few years ago and he could still swing it and nip it back at will..." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS"The great Richard Hadlee, the greatest line and length bowler I ever saw, I saw him bowl in the nets a few years ago and he could still swing it and nip it back at will..." Geoffrey Boycott on TMS
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1047: England only need 3.7 runs per over to win this. This is going to be an absolute ruddy doddle. Any of you feeling a bit down out there, I think it's about time we put this in context. Yes, it may be miserable, but let me tell you a sad story. My brother was Level 42's biggest fan - he had all the albums, from the eponymous Level 42 right through to Running in the Family - and once made the trek up to BBC TV Centre to see lead singer and 'best slap bassist in the world' Mark King, who had just appeared on Wogan. King duly obliged for a snapshot and my brother went away chuffed. But the look on his face when he pulled his photos from the HappySnaps wallet is making me well up now: the shot hadn't come out properly. His face - it was crushing. That's tragedy my friends. Cook gets off the mark with a push for three into the covers. 6-01047: England only need 3.7 runs per over to win this. This is going to be an absolute ruddy doddle. Any of you feeling a bit down out there, I think it's about time we put this in context. Yes, it may be miserable, but let me tell you a sad story. My brother was Level 42's biggest fan - he had all the albums, from the eponymous Level 42 right through to Running in the Family - and once made the trek up to BBC TV Centre to see lead singer and 'best slap bassist in the world' Mark King, who had just appeared on Wogan. King duly obliged for a snapshot and my brother went away chuffed. But the look on his face when he pulled his photos from the HappySnaps wallet is making me well up now: the shot hadn't come out properly. His face - it was crushing. That's tragedy my friends. Cook gets off the mark with a push for three into the covers. 6-0
"Oh, and a sort of goose flies past the ground! Or maybe it's a cormorant? A rather dirty grey one..." Henry Blofeld on TMS"Oh, and a sort of goose flies past the ground! Or maybe it's a cormorant? A rather dirty grey one..." Henry Blofeld on TMS
1043: McGrath next into the attack - he's looking for his fourth 10-wicket haul in Tests. Gilchrist scampers down the pitch to have a chat with Pigeon. Not sure what he can possibly be saying: "Bowl it in exactly the same place you've bowled every ball you've ever bowled...". "OK, thanks Gilly...". Maiden. 3-01043: McGrath next into the attack - he's looking for his fourth 10-wicket haul in Tests. Gilchrist scampers down the pitch to have a chat with Pigeon. Not sure what he can possibly be saying: "Bowl it in exactly the same place you've bowled every ball you've ever bowled...". "OK, thanks Gilly...". Maiden. 3-0
1039: Lee's first ball is wide outside Strauss' off-stump but the England opener is then beaten by one that keeps low. The one consolation is that England aren't going to lose by the biggest margin ever. Let's all have a disco, let's all have a disco...Strauss opens England's account with a cover-drive for three. 3-01039: Lee's first ball is wide outside Strauss' off-stump but the England opener is then beaten by one that keeps low. The one consolation is that England aren't going to lose by the biggest margin ever. Let's all have a disco, let's all have a disco...Strauss opens England's account with a cover-drive for three. 3-0
1033: Umpires are out, no sign of the players yet. Here they come, the Aussies led out by Gilchrist rather than Ponting. Ponting will be on his front in the dressing room getting a bit of a rub up.1033: Umpires are out, no sign of the players yet. Here they come, the Aussies led out by Gilchrist rather than Ponting. Ponting will be on his front in the dressing room getting a bit of a rub up.
"I was told by a good friend, an Englishman, that Vaughany is ready to go, he's pretty all right..." Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS"I was told by a good friend, an Englishman, that Vaughany is ready to go, he's pretty all right..." Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS
1023: Langer dabs Harmison down into the off-side, brings up his hundred and Australia declare on 202-1. England need a very gettable 648 to win. Come on England, we can still do this!!! Sorry...1023: Langer dabs Harmison down into the off-side, brings up his hundred and Australia declare on 202-1. England need a very gettable 648 to win. Come on England, we can still do this!!! Sorry...
1020: Langer carves Hoggard away for a single to move within one of his ton. Ponting has a wild swish at a wide one - maybe hit one of those cracks - and misses. Hoggard then beats Ponting twice in two balls, one jagging back, the next cutting away. Ponting pokes Hoggard over Collingwood at backward point for four to bring up Australia's 200 before being beaten again. Four times past the bat in the over. This Ponting's a load of old rubbish... 201-11020: Langer carves Hoggard away for a single to move within one of his ton. Ponting has a wild swish at a wide one - maybe hit one of those cracks - and misses. Hoggard then beats Ponting twice in two balls, one jagging back, the next cutting away. Ponting pokes Hoggard over Collingwood at backward point for four to bring up Australia's 200 before being beaten again. Four times past the bat in the over. This Ponting's a load of old rubbish... 201-1
1018: The physio is on for Ponting, who's feeling the base of his back. Don't get this - why not just go off and let someone else give it some tap? Harmison finds the edge of Langer's bat and the ball balloons out to point. Punter gets up on tip-toes and pulls Harmison away for a single. Three from the over. 196-11018: The physio is on for Ponting, who's feeling the base of his back. Don't get this - why not just go off and let someone else give it some tap? Harmison finds the edge of Langer's bat and the ball balloons out to point. Punter gets up on tip-toes and pulls Harmison away for a single. Three from the over. 196-1
1013: Ponting sinks to his knees after slapping Hoggard away for a single, he looks uncomfortable. What a choker...Langer latches on to a short one from Hoggard and despite a valiant stop from Flintoff, runs four. Ponting's injury can't be that bad. Langer gets a top-edge down to third man. The suspicion is that Langer will bring up his ton and the Aussies will get out of there - he needs five more. 193-11013: Ponting sinks to his knees after slapping Hoggard away for a single, he looks uncomfortable. What a choker...Langer latches on to a short one from Hoggard and despite a valiant stop from Flintoff, runs four. Ponting's injury can't be that bad. Langer gets a top-edge down to third man. The suspicion is that Langer will bring up his ton and the Aussies will get out of there - he needs five more. 193-1
"What I'd like to see here is Harmison really tearing in, saying 'I'm going to really show you what I'm made of'." Jonathan Agnew on TMS"What I'd like to see here is Harmison really tearing in, saying 'I'm going to really show you what I'm made of'." Jonathan Agnew on TMS
1007: Harmison on. Please, Harmy, get us a couple. His first is shortish but Langer mis-times a pull. His second is on leg and Langer tickles it away for a single. Harmison has a decent lbw shout against Ponting turned down by umpire Bucknor - touch high. Punter then drives down the ground for three, and the Aussie skipper has done himself a mischief - looks like he might have snagged something. 186-11007: Harmison on. Please, Harmy, get us a couple. His first is shortish but Langer mis-times a pull. His second is on leg and Langer tickles it away for a single. Harmison has a decent lbw shout against Ponting turned down by umpire Bucknor - touch high. Punter then drives down the ground for three, and the Aussie skipper has done himself a mischief - looks like he might have snagged something. 186-1
1003: Hoggard has a packed off-side and his first six deliveries are wide and swinging away - Ponting not having a nibble and it's a maiden. 181-11003: Hoggard has a packed off-side and his first six deliveries are wide and swinging away - Ponting not having a nibble and it's a maiden. 181-1
0958: Players are out - Harmison was out earlier than the rest having a practice bowl in the middle. Hoggard is having first go with the ball though.0958: Players are out - Harmison was out earlier than the rest having a practice bowl in the middle. Hoggard is having first go with the ball though.
0953: There is a conspiracy theory doing the rounds at the Gabba that Ponting may bat on until tea in an attempt to get the biggest Test win ever. Bit of risk in that, but probably not that much...0953: There is a conspiracy theory doing the rounds at the Gabba that Ponting may bat on until tea in an attempt to get the biggest Test win ever. Bit of risk in that, but probably not that much...
"From our point of view, Ponting not making us follow-on means we've got less time to bat and it's not completely impossible to bat for two days on this wicket, it's still good. The ball hasn't misbehaved massively off the cracks. The first 20 overs are the key, it should get easier and easier after that." England opener Andrew Strauss"From our point of view, Ponting not making us follow-on means we've got less time to bat and it's not completely impossible to bat for two days on this wicket, it's still good. The ball hasn't misbehaved massively off the cracks. The first 20 overs are the key, it should get easier and easier after that." England opener Andrew Strauss
0935: Evening/morning everyone. I've just spent a sad old evening in front of Strictly Come Dancing pondering the frailties of English cricket.0935: Evening/morning everyone. I've just spent a sad old evening in front of Strictly Come Dancing pondering the frailties of English cricket.
Mark Ramprakash, lest we forget, was perhaps the most gifted English bat of his generation and scored more than 2,000 runs in the County Championship last season at over 100.Mark Ramprakash, lest we forget, was perhaps the most gifted English bat of his generation and scored more than 2,000 runs in the County Championship last season at over 100.
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And there he was mincing about in sequins for the edification of Brucie and a load of old girls when he should have been in Brisbane. Of course, his international career was over years ago, but the list of talented Englishmen with fragile minds is almost endless: Hick, Thorpe, Caddick, Chris Lewis, Malcolm, and now we have Tresco and Harmison. What's going on here? Answers in an email or text please...And there he was mincing about in sequins for the edification of Brucie and a load of old girls when he should have been in Brisbane. Of course, his international career was over years ago, but the list of talented Englishmen with fragile minds is almost endless: Hick, Thorpe, Caddick, Chris Lewis, Malcolm, and now we have Tresco and Harmison. What's going on here? Answers in an email or text please...
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