THIRD TEST, DAY TWO, PERTH (close):
Australia 244 & 119-1 v England 215Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden both passed 50 as Australia built a formidable lead having bowled England out for 215 in the third Test.
THE DAY'S ACTION (all times local to Perth - GMT+9)
AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS
CLOSE OF PLAY - AUSTRALIA 119-1 & 244, ENGLAND 215
"Flintoff's innings was poor, really poor. And unless Geraint Jones does something special in the second innings, he should go for the next Test. His mental approach to Test match cricket at the moment is appalling."
Geoff Boycott on TMS "I don't understand why Harmison didn't take the new ball. I thought the idea was that the two fastest bowlers took it. If he peppers it around too much then is it right to include him in the squad? I'm not criticising him, just asking."
Barbara Bampton, via TMS inbox
1900: Australia 119-1 Matthew Hayden nonchalantly flicks Steve Harmison off his pads for four from the last ball of the day, a day that has seen much of England's hope of retaining the Ashes disappear. Hayden and Ponting race off the field looking ecstatic, they clearly believe that session has just won them back the greatest prize in cricket.
"This must be the worst England performance in an Ashes series in the modern day game."
Tony Hall, via TMS inbox1854: Australia 114-1 Ah, KP-baiting from the Aussies. Pietersen comes on to bowl and Hayden, mimicking KP's extravagant leave alone where he pivots round to almost facing the keeper, brings a heated reaction from the bowler. KP gives Hayden the verbals in-between each ball and at the end of the over. He doesn't look happy. Who is?
1849: Australia 113-1 Monty gets a false shot from Hayden this time, the ball seemingly catching glove on its way behind Geraint Jones and into a vacant area behind the keeper and slip. Fair play to Monty, he's wheeled away manfully, but it's just not happened this time.
1841: Australia 110-1 Monty finally finds some magic, getting one to turn and nick the edge of Ponting's bat, but the ball drops short of Paul Collingwood at slip. Just about the only moment Punter's ever looked in the slightest bit of bother. I hate batting being made to look so easy. Bring back uncovered pitches, or something like that.
1832: Australia 107-1 Matthew Hayden reaches 50 for the first time in the series with a paddled sweep for one off Monty. The lead is now 136, Australia are going to bat all day long tomorrow and this is going to be the last game of cricket I ever bother watching. "Bill Cooper, the Barmy Army trumpeter, is blaring out yuletide favourites. Hmm, you've got to look forward to something when your team looks set to be 3-0 down in the Ashes."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
1825: Australia 104-1 Ponting gets to 50 yet again with a superbly-executed sweep that goes fine for four more. He's looked in about as much trouble as Monty did in his classy knock. "Seriously though, he's not a number six, is he, Flintoff? Not against good attacks on difficult pitches? Is he?"
Jim Maxwell on TMS
1822: Australia 99-1 Flintoff's bowling well, but the pitch is doing nothing. It looks a pretty good track to bat on in fairness, which it might have this morning as well had England's top order not played some incomprehensible shots. You know who you are.
"The pitch, England and their supporters have gone a tad flat. A flurry of wickets late in the day might change things dramatically, but it doesn't look that way right now."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
1814: Australia 95-1 Flintoff brings himself back on and it's a good start from the skipper, pretty much on the money straight away. Stifles an appeal as Ponting misses a pull shot, but too high. Incidentally, sorry for the 90-4 typo. Either I was subconsciously trying to raise the hopes of a nation, or I just made a rubbish mistake. I think we all know which one.
1807: Australia 90-1 Hayden hammers Monty for four with a bullish sweep, they just don't look in any danger at all, these two. More frustratingly, the England players have gone quiet and seem largely resigned to their fate.
"This is no good - which idiot invented cricket anyway? They have a lot to answer for."
Martin, via text1802: Australia 83-1 I don't want to believe that the Ashes are slipping away. Last summer was too good to think it's all over already. Monty gets a leading edge from Ponting but it falls safely away from the fielders. The Barmy Army are singing from memory.
1757: Australia 79-1 First over for Sajid Mahmood and it fails to test either batsman. A wide is called off his first ball, outside off stump. Massively harsh from Aleem Dar, what is this a one dayer? Need a bit more help from the umpires than that.
DRINKS
Could do with one myself, to be fair. Alcoholic preferably and enough to forget the position England find themselves in. If it wasn't for Monty, I think I might have given up already.
"Here in the Omani desert even the camels are watching the bl**dy cricket."
Chris Booth, via TMS inbox1743: Australia 68-1 Hayden sweeps and sweeps hard at Monty, getting two thanks to a good bit of fielding from Strauss in the deep. Already it seems the Aussies are playing Monty with more respect, but they will not allow him to dominate as he did yesterday.
1735: Australia 63-1 Monty Panesar is on, but no early joy for the hero of the first innings. Ponting rocks onto the back foot and drills him through the covers for four by way of hello. Charming.
1730: Australia 55-1 Ponting dismissively pulls away Harmison for four. The game is getting away from England double-quick and they need to pull it back, somehow.
Monty update: The Sikh of Tweak is warming up in the outfield.
1725: Australia 51-1 Not exactly what the doctor ordered, for England anyway. Hayden, looking increasingly fluent, clips a leg-side Hoggard delivery for four to bring up the 50 partnership. Ominous signs at the Waca.
"Things are starting to drift a bit for England on a lazy afternoon, with the Fremantle Doctor providing respite after another scorching day. It might be time for the Montster soon..."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca1717: Australia 45-1 Hoggard drags the ball onto Hayden's leg stump and is promptly put away for four. These are dangerous times for England, who are collectively bowling too short at the moment. Just remember how your team-mates got out boys.
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1713: Australia 41-1 Harms drops short twice and Ponting twice pulls him for four, Harms pitches up and Ponting looks uncomfortable. Rocket science it ain't.
1709: Australia 32-1 Goodness me that was close. Ponting is saved plumb LBW by the faintest inside edge, much to Hoggard's dejection. Another massive appeal from the last ball is turned down too, but I think it's just pitched in line and hitting, too. The ball's still swinging, but you feel England know they need to strike very soon.
1705: Australia 32-1 Steve Harmison is into the action and Hayden cracks him past Alastair Cook at point for four. Good bit of bounce from Harms though, who already looks a bit more dangerous than Flintoff.
"The Barmy Army are in great voice at the moment and England need some more quick wickets to keep them going."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
"England need a wicket. They need to keep taking wickets to make sure they stay in the hunt in this Test match."
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS1656: Australia 26-1 Bit more J&H. Hayden tries to slap Flintoff through mid-wicket without getting anywhere near it. Bit better next up, whacking a drive off the back four through mid-wicket for four and then drilling him past cover to the boundary. Enthralling stuff, it's either four or nearly out every ball from the burly left-hander.
1652: Australia 17-1 The curiousness of Matthew Hayden. Follows up a terrible play-and-miss outside off stump with a crashing drive for four through wide mid-off. So Jekyll and Hyde.
1648: Australia 13-1 Good stuff from Freddie to Ponting. He misses his off stump by centimetres with a full, swinging ball and Harmison, standing at mid-on, holds his head in his hands. "Just come back from my local boulangerie with a baguette - told the baker how exciting the cricket was, he didn't really seem interested. That's the trouble with the French, nice bunch, but they've got no culture. I mean, who needs Moliere when you've got Monty?"
Nick, Toulouse, via TMS inbox
1644: Australia 13-1 Punter gets four down to the vacant third man area, then survives a big Hoggard appeal for LBW. Going way over the top, but a pretty good area to bowl to the Aussie skipper early on in his innings.
1640: Australia 8-1 Freddie Flintoff picks himself over Steve Harmison to open at the other end and Matthew Hayden welcomes him by slamming him straight down the pitch for four. Arrogant, belligerent, brilliant. The old Matty Hayden, not the new one.
1634: Australia 4-1 Ricky Ponting eases the pressure just a touch by caning Hoggard to the cover-point boundary for four, but that Kookaburra ball is swinging all over the shop.
"Imagine if we'd started like that in Brisbane."
Charlie, via text
1629: WICKET Australia 0-1 (Langer 0)
Stumps all over the place, oh what a start, Matthew Hoggard you are up there with Monty Panesar in the pantheon of English cricket greats. First ball, the very first ball of the innings is a ripper, swinging devastatingly in to Justin Langer's stumps and smashing his middle stump all over the place. Game on. My word is it game on. 1628: Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer fairly race onto the field to prepare for Australia's second innings. Matthew Hoggard will open up. "110-4 would be nice at the close," says TMS's Geoff Boycott.
"Just tuned in, what on earth has gone wrong?"
Martin via TMS
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"Have been singing Monty's name all night at works party. In work now, will be singing it all day too if he takes a couple of wickets early doors."
Lee, via text "I thought Pietersen played very well indeed like Hussey did for Australia and the tailenders were excellent. I've been saying for a while I think Harmison is the best of the tailenders - he has hand-eye co-ordination and if someone really worked with him, I think he's capable of a 50 or two, maybe even a 70."
Geoff Boycott on TMS "Right, call Phillips and tell her we want the trophy back first thing. And while she's at it perhaps she can have a word with her gran about giving Monty a gong too."
Richard Ryan, via TMS inbox
"Greetings from the Eurostar. 25 Minutes ago we went under the channel with nine wickets down and when we re-emerged they were still at the crease! Is Monty any good at rugby?"
David Wilmot, via TMS inboxTEA
ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS
1606: WICKET England 215 all out (Harmison 23, Panesar 16 no)
All over now, unlucky for Steve Harmison who plays a leading edge to Stuart Clark and is caught at mid-on by Brett Lee. But those two boys should walk off the pitch proud of their efforts. They showed their team-mates how it should be done. Let's hope they take that confidence into their bowling again and the others follow suit. "Unbelievable! I never thought I'd see Monty and Harmison see off Warne. That shot for four off Clark from Monty had the purists here purring."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
"So Monty was kept out the side as he couldn't bat was he? Hmmmm."
Vincent, via TMS inbox1600: England 214-9 Clark is inches away from uprooting Monty's off stump with a yorker, but Monty the new King of England plays the shot of the Ashes so far with a devastating straight drive back past the bowler for four. Seriously, get him higher up the order. I don't even care if he's out next ball. Though clearly I do. Come on Monty, on 30 to go before we're ahead. The partnership of 39 is England's best effort. Hold your heads high, fellas.
1557: England 209-9 Monty mania - you ain't seen nothing yet. Not only is he a bowling machine, but boy can this fella bat, too. He sends Warne over cow corner for a fabulous four and Harms gets his sweep out again to nurdle a single. Textbook cricket.
"England are fighting hard at the death. This partnership might just be able to inspire the England higher order because they are playing with common sense and discipline. They should be inspired by this stuff from these two."
Geoff Lawson on TMSEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
"Do Harmison and Panesar have to do everything for this team?"
Philip Smyth, via TMS inbox
1551: England 202-9 Stuart Clark makes a mess of letting go of the ball, dropping it in the middle of his delivery stride and providing Harms with a good laugh in the process. Next ball, Harms tickles him down the left side for four. Deficit 42 and counting.
1549: England 197-9 I could watch Harmison sweep Warne all day long. In fact, I'd easily pay one hundred of your Australia dollars to see Harmison sweep Warne all day long. So long, in fact, that England race past 244 and Harms closes in on a maiden Test century. Sorry, two singles from the over and the deficit is 47. Sorry.
"The Monty song from the Barmy Army is a reworking of Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag as in "Da da da da, Monty Panesar, Da da da da, Monty Panesar..." You get the idea. The Aussies aren't quite sure what to make of this."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca1544: England 195-9 Lee is racing in to Monty but England's number 11 plays him well, standing up tall and not shirking the challenge. He even gets a single into the offside. If only the rest of the side showed the same character as the Sikh of Tweak.
1538: England 192-9 Monty takes charge, producing a magnificent lofted stroke to slog Warne away for four. By the cheers from the Barmy Army, you'd have thought the Ashes were coming home. Monty and Harms then take turns sweeping away for singles.
1535: England 186-9 Harms takes up the baton from KP and goes after Lee in the paceman derby. He swats him away for a couple through mid-wicket before lashing the same shot away for four and then snicking one out of Ricky Ponting's reach at second slip. 10 off the over, Australia's lead reduced to 58.
"I think England have just done the cricket equivalent of shaking hands with Stephen Hendry."
Daryl Layton, via text1525: WICKET England 175-9 (Pietersen 70)
All over for Kevin Pietersen. He smotes Brett Lee through mid-wicket for four with a breathtaking shot, only to launch him into the air off the fifth ball and be well caught at long-off by Andrew Symonds. It was fun while it lasted, his brief assault, but England are deep in the mire now. Monty the Saviour digs out a yorker off the last ball of the over. 1519: England 171-8 Pietersen moves up a couple of gears. He launches Warne down the ground four times, off the second he's lucky to be dropped by a diving Glenn McGrath. Off the fifth ball, he connects brilliantly and slams Warne over extra cover for a scintillating six. 15 off the over, few more of those KP. The Barmy Army have woken up, too. Come on, we're back in it!
"I'd have loved to have seen Matthew Hoggard batting with Dennis Lillee's old aluminium bat. He'd have given it a clunk and it would have gone absolutely nowhere."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS "Pietersen almost seemed unaware (or not bothered) that he'd reached fifty. I think we could see some fireworks now with only Harmison and Monty for support."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
DRINKS
1510: WICKET England 155-8 (Hoggard 4)
He lasted 39 balls and 47 minutes and England aren't in this mess because of Matthew Hoggard, but it's a disappointing end for the dogged tailender nevertheless. Pushing aimlessly at a wide one from Shane Warne, Hoggy's caught comfortably by Matthew Hayden at first slip. 1509: England 154-7 Not exactly thrilling cricket, but hats off to Kevin Pietersen for reaching a remarkably patient half century by his standards. He reaches it with a typically forceful bottom-handed push to long-on off Warne. "That's it lads, lead them into a sense of false security."
Dan, from London via textEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
1502: England 153-7 Shane Warne is brought on to try and tempt Pietersen into a mistake. Not this time, KP taking a single of the fourth ball and Hoggy comfortably surviving two balls.
"If you look at every dismissal in this innings, they have all been caught inbetween backward point and the keeper, which to be fair is not unusual for this ground."
Jim Maxwell on TMS
1458: England 152-7 KP throws everything he has at Brett Lee's first ball. It goes a long, long way in the air - and drops about 10 yards in front of three Australian fielders running in from the boundary. Hoggy then guides one past gully for a couple.
1453: England 149-7 Pietersen chops McGrath down to third man for four, a remarkable shot that leaves Pigeon shaking his 36-year-old head in disgust. He's even more sickened when KP twice dances down the track and tries to cart him through mid-wicket, picking up a single each time. In between, Hoggy squeezes one into the leg side for one.
"This is tricky for Pietersen. There are only a couple of areas where he can take two or hit a four. But Matthew is well-suited to this situation and he's got a good chance of surviving if Pietersen talks him through it."
Geoff Boycott on TMS1446: England 141-7 KP refuses a single off the first ball and nurdles a two through the covers next up. He takes one off the third, instead. Hoggy sees off the rest of Clark's over.
1440: England 138-7 That's the money shot. KP nicks a single, then Hoggy gets off the mark with a squirt down to third man. From the last ball, Pietersen crunches Clark through the offside for four. A few more of those and we're back in the game.
"This is a clever new tactic from the England batsmen. Keep Warne out of the attack by getting out to the other bowlers."
Andrew Buckingham, via TMS inbox1432: England 132-7 KP clearly has a lot of faith in Hoggy. He keeps taking a single off the start of the over to give his team-mate the strike. Which is depressing me even more. It's half five in the morning, I'm watching England collapse and KP's making me watch Hoggy and his half-forward defensive prod, instead of the explosive carnage I need to wake me up.
"For the first time in this match, the Barmy Army are deflated. It's going to need something special from Pietersen here to prevent the Aussies taking a significant lead."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
1427: England 130-7 Now I know how Dirsy felt. It's gut-wrenching, especially coming so quickly after Monty and Harms' heroics yesterday. Matthew Hoggard survives a Glenn McGrath over, but that's all it is - survival. An embarrassing effort from England can only be saved by the genius of Kevin Peter Pietersen.
"That's it, ditched the car in the middle lane."
Nij, from Manchester via text1418: WICKET England 128-7 (Mahmood 10)
Oh for the love God. I'd just decided that Sajid Mahmood could bat, after a lovely cut to the fence off Stuart Clark. But Metronome II hits back immediately, seducing Saj into a pretty shambolic edge behind to Adam Gilchrist. England's innings is in absolute tatters, still 116 behind. I've decided Sajid Mahmood can bat. He leaves the ball nicely, as if he knows exactly what he's doing. Which I'm sure he does, what with a highest first-class score of 94. He cuts Stuart Clark to the fence for four, a top shot.
1416: England 123-6 KP takes three steps down the track and tries to hoik Glenn McGrath over mid-wicket for four. He bottoms it and scampers through for a single anyway. I think it's pretty clear where his intentions might lie, don't you?
"I've just asked my Aussie colleague if their embassy here in Nairobi can sort me out with an Aussie passport and my eight-year-old has taken his Lancashire CCC hat off and is crying as we speak."
Andy Derry via TMS inbox
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"You can make a lot of money betting on an England collapse. Seems to be the only way to squeeze any reason out of still being awake."
Gurvinder Gill, via TMS inbox "Morning all, another pathetic performance by the batsman. The Australians are accurate nothing more, get the series over after we lose this one."
JP, from Birmingham, via text "It's been a very, very good, disciplined performance by the Australians. The only surprise is that the guy who's taken two wickets this morning is Andrew Symonds. All of England's hopes rest with Pietersen now."
Vic Marks on TMS
"Sitting in a wet Sydney site office listening to the Aussie roars as the wickets tumble, August 2005 seems a lifetime ago."
Ian Butler, via TMS inbox
LUNCH
1329: England 122-6 Pietersen plays a frenzied pull off Lee and picks up a single. It's difficult to imagine the livewire staying as relaxed as Hussey did yesterday when he was running out of partners. Mahmood cuts for a couple to bring the session to an end.
1322: England 116-6 Sajid Mahmood is off the mark with an uppish drive for two through the covers off the recalled Stuart Clark. He then coolly flicks Clark through mid-wicket for two more. That's all we can ask for, well done son.
"Quelle suprise... Geraint Jones out without troubling the scorers. Even the Americans I am watching with in Boston think he's rubbish."
Roman Pettigrew, via TMS inbox
1315: WICKET England 114-6 (Jones 0)
His world record attempt has ended. Geraint Jones had gone 51 Test innings without scoring a duck, but he has now. The clamour for Chris Read just got even louder. Jones trudges off after snicking Andrew Symonds to Justin Langer at gully from a full, seemingly harmless ball outside off stump. No words can do that shot justice. None. 1311: England 113-4 Pietersen plays a typically flamboyant lofted pull shot through mid-wicket for four off Lee and tries it again, this time only picking up a single to deep backward square leg.
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"What I'd give to have Gilo coming in at number eight now. I realise that England need a dangerous bowling attack but we have four tailenders in this side!"
Tom Nolan, via TMS inbox1303: WICKET England 107-5 (Flintoff 13)
In a right old mess now. Andrew Symonds gets one to just nip away from Andrew Flintoff and the England skipper helps it on its way to Shane Warne, back on the field, at first slip. It's a disappointing dismissal, but you couldn't help but think it was coming. Geraint Jones in and an even bigger onus on KP now. 1300: England 106-4 Gorgeous straight drive for four from Flintoff off Lee, but when will he learn - twice he plays silly shots that could easily have found the outside edge. Come on Freddie, we're all praying for you. An entire nation.
1256: England 102-4 Pietersen brings up the hundred with a neat little fiddle down to fine leg for four as Andrew Symonds strays onto leg stump. Pietersen is in watchful mood, much more sensible now than when he first came to the crease.
"After a quiet start, the Barmy Army have started warming up with some brutal songs about Glenn McGrath's age. This is a crucial passage of play and England desperately need a big stand from these two."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca
1253: England 96-4 Flintoff gets a couple more by clipping Lee off his pads, but he ends the over in familiar fashion, with a loose shot outside off stump that he fails to connect with. I don't know what else to say - I'm scared half to death of cursing either of these two boys.
"From my vantage point on the M62, Strauss was most definitely not out."
Tony Highley from Halifax, via text
"He's a bit like Shirley Bassey, with all that hair and lipstick."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS on Andrew Symonds1247: England 94-4 Symonds, hair crashing all over the place, comes on to bowl and Pietersen, suitably restrained, has a good look. England's tormentor-in-chief Shane Warne is off the pitch at the moment, not sure why just yet.
1244: England 94-4 Much better from Flintoff, crashing Lee past mid-off for four. It was momentarily reminiscent of last summer, until he plays and misses a couple of balls later. It's difficult to overstate how important the next wicket is to both teams.
1238: England 89-4 KP dances down the track and clips McGrath behind square leg for a couple. He also extravagantly leaves a couple outside off stump. You have to feel England's first innings total is now in Pietersen's electric hands.
DRINKS
1231: England 87-4 Bit worried about the captain. He just doesn't look in any sort of nick at the moment. He wafts hopelessly at a really wide one from Brett Lee and gets nowhere near it. Lack of practice, TMS's Geoff Boycott puts it down to. It's hard to disagree.
"Here we go again, just when it was looking so good. Please England, not again! We need a proper captain's innings from Freddie Flintoff."
Hasan Haq, via TMS inbox1221: England 85-4 Televison replays and pundits alike are suggesting Strauss didn't get anywhere near it. That really is a cruel blow for England. Pietersen responds by slapping Clark down the ground, but Andrew Symonds pulls off a breathtaking one-handed stop to prevent a boundary. Intense cricket at the minute.
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1216: WICKET England 82-4 (Strauss 42)
Heartbreak, just as Andrew Strauss had got to his highest score of the series. Stuart Clark bowls one wider of off stump, the England opener chases it and Rudi Koertzen gives him the finger. Not sure he's feathered that one and neither is he. He's out though.
"There's an element of Viv Richards in Kevin Pietersen, getting in a big stride forward, but he can also quickly rock back and play the pull shot. I'd just like to see him play that shot down a bit more. He's quite an imposing player overall."
Geoff Boycott on TMS1213: England 78-3 That's what I love about KP. A simply extraordinary drive past mid-off for four glorious runs, after Strauss (the Jonathan Stevenson of the England team?) had coaxed McGrath through the covers for four. Semblance of a partnership from these two, dare I say.
1210: England 71-3 Clark gives Pietersen nothing to hit and Brett Lee's warming up at mid on. The pressure is about to be cranked up on England, can they dig in survive the onslaught?
1203: England 70-3 Strauss plays an exquisite leg-glance for four off McGrath. Great stuff as England try to wrestle back the advantage. If I was an England player, I think I'd be Strauss. We both bat left-handed and our better halves are called Ruth. Ok, so we're not exactly Siamese twins, but it's something in common.
"Great day for batting, an absolutely great day. Bit in the pitch mind you, but it's just a good cricket wicket."
Geoff Boycott on TMS1159: England 63-3 Pietersen plays a horrifically ugly-looking shot, wafting his bat way outside off stump and luckily watching the ball fly away to the bounday through the fourth slip area. I know a lot of you would love to be able to watch this, but it's tricky viewing. My blood pressure's already getting dangerous. Strauss calms my nerves with a nice-looking pull for three. Good boy.
1156: England 56-2 Another maiden for McGrath. I wonder how often I'll get to repeat that sentence in the next couple of hours. Strauss is particularly watchful, thankfully.
"Im not concerned about the bad start. After all we have Geraint Jones to come, getting all those runs at number seven."
Dave, from Nottingham, via text1152: England 56-3 Back to basics for Clark, bowling a faultless over at Pietersen, who looks even more lively than usual this morning. If Glenn McGrath had been cloned, I wonder how much like Stuart Clark the result would be...
1147: England 56-3 As if losing Colly wasn't bad enough, Pietersen nearly runs out Strauss with a kamikaze single to get off the mark. He's watchable, I'll give him that. He doesn't half make life difficult though.
1143: WICKET England 55-3 (Collingwood 11)
Distaster early doors as the hero of Adelaide, Paul Collingwood, gives his wicket away, foolishly going hard at a wide one from Glenn McGrath and snaffled at gully by Matthew Hayden. Sorry for jinxing it. Promise I won't do it again. It's KP time. 1141: England 54-2 Couple of runs through the covers for Collingwood and Clark then concedes a wide, which presumably puts his claim to Glenn McGrath's crown of metronomy in doubt.
1136: England 51-2 Glenn McGrath bowls a pretty tame over to Andrew Strauss, if truth be told. Just occasionally, McGrath gives the impression of a guy who looks unlikely to ever take a Test wicket. Which is remarkable, as he's got 552. I'm not trying to jinx it, honest.
1131: England 51-2 Bang on target in the first over of the day from Stuart Clark, who continues to look like a top quality Test match bowler. Hopefully one who doesn't take too many wickets.
1129: England batsmen Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood walk on to the field with the score at 51-2 in reply to Australia's 244 all out.
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"He's very good at bowling the first ball of his spell, Monty. I think that's a very under-rated achievement. His first over in the Ashes in Australia and he was straight on the mark."
Vic Marks on TMS
I hear Monty's been nominated for Beard of the Year. How do we vote? While we're at it, can we vote for Monty as Prime Minister, our Eurovision entry, for an MBE, England rugby coach - the lot? I think I'm falling in love with him.
Mark Willingham, via TMS inbox Sunshine, Dirsy's not coming back. Like the England selectors with Ashley Giles, you've got to let him go. Though with Monty now in for Gilo, I guess there has to be some sort of issue over team selection. Might I suggest you question the continuing presence of Geraint Jones in the side ahead of the world's best wicket-keeper Chris Read? Just a thought.
"Who is the guy writing the live text for this Test? Stop saying the Aussies can't bat, stop saying it's easy and stop banging on about Monty. Report it like it is - sort it out or bring back Ben Dirs."
Ben Coles, via TMS inbox
"It's another glorious day here with a cloudless sky and the place is buzzing with anticipation. The pitch is likely to offer plenty of bounce again and England need a lead of at least 100. Their fans seemed to have taken over the city and the banter continued to fly thick and fast between them and the Aussies."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca "That was the best day of the tour so far, outstanding. For a finger-spinner to take five wickets on day one of a Test, it's unheard of.
Ex-England skipper Alec Stewart on BBC One's highlights programme
"I'm absolutely seething at what might have been if Monty had played before. The time has come for David Graveny and his selectors to either get it right regarding how the team is picked or go. Sort it out, now.
Ex-England skipper Tony Greig on BBC One's highlights programme "Seriously, it's awesome. But can we please talk about something else?"
My girlfriend, earlier tonight on the phone, after about an hour of "Monty time"
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