THIRD TEST, DAY THREE, PERTH (close):
Australia 244 & 527-5 dec v England 215 & 19-1
Adam Gilchrist scored the second fastest hundred in Test history as Australia set England 557 to win the third Test. They ended the day on 19-1.
THE DAY'S ACTION (all times local to Perth - GMT+9)
ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS
"I thought Harmison bowled well, I thought Hoggard bowled well, in the first two sessions at least. In the evening session, as we wilted, Gilchrist just absolutely murdered us."
Geoff Boycott on TMS "There's a good chance Australia will achieve their aim of regaining the Ashes tomorrow. Incidentally, Jamie Dalrymple has been called up as the replacement for Ashley Giles."
Jonathan Agnew on TMSCLOSE OF PLAY
1902: England 19-1 Bell gets a couple playing McGrath into the offside and he picks up some from overthrows too, as Symonds' throw bounces extravagantly and disappears into the outfield. From the last ball, McGrath waits about five minutes before following his team-mates in appealing for an LBW against Cook. Not very impressive, but what an incredible day to be Australian.
"My time machine works!!! I went to bed last night and woke up in the early 1990s!"
Simon, via TMS inbox
1857: England 12-1 Cook beautifully pushes Lee down the ground for four, despite Andrew Symonds' best efforts running back. News filters through that Ashley Giles is flying back to England due to a family illness.
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1853: England 8-1 Ian Bell rocks onto the back foot and pulls a high ball from McGrath behind square for a lovely boundary, the first of the innings. "I'd put Stuart Clark on," says TMS's Geoff Boycott. Not sure they need our help, Geoff, to be fair. Sicknote for Liz (see earlier): "I'm afraid Liz will not be able to attend work for the forseeable future due to an outbreak of lostashesitis which is spread by Australian Cricketers and only affects People of 1st Generation English Descent residing in Australia."
Andrew, via TMS inbox
1845: England 3-1 Cook gets the first runs of the innings, playing Glenn McGrath nicely through the leg side for three. Dunno what else to tell you. Apparently it's still quite hot. Apparently the wind's still blowing. Apparently, the little urn is on display in Perth at the moment. I'm with you lot emailing in - let's hear from Duncan Fletcher, see what he's got to say. Will the decision to play Giles and Jones go down as the biggest Ashes selection blunders in history?
"I know the Aussies wanted the Ashes back badly, but did they really need to resort to bribing the umpires? Every single decision has gone their way."
Jason, via TMS inbox
1837: WICKET England 0-1 (Strauss 0)
You just knew it was coming. If anyone says "stop being so depressed". Well, just don't, ok? Andrew Strauss leaves the first two from Brett Lee alone and then lets the third one go too. It swings back and raps him on the pad, to be perfectly honest it looks too high, but Rudi Koertzen doesn't care and raises his sodding finger anyway. It's not out, it's just not out. Koertzen wasn't giving them earlier, so what's changed? "One day a team will score 557 to win a Test match."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS1835: Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss walk out onto the Waca pitch with just under half an hour to bat. Can they survive after the slaughter their team has just been subjected to?
"Good old Gilly!! He plays the game the right way, is always the first to shake the opposition's hand when they've excelled and is a top bloke to boot."
Neil, via TMS inbox
"You and your colleague Anna are depressed? Boo hoo, at least you're surrounded by ENGLISH people in ENGLAND. I am a lone English girl in an office of 16 AUSSIES in Melbourne, AUSTRALIA. Will somebody reading this please help me and write me a sick note so that I don't have to go to work on Monday?"
Liz, via TMS inbox
AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS
RICKY PONTING DECLARES WITH AUSTRALIA ON 527-5, 556 AHEAD
"Is it possible to set fire to the Ashes and celebrate the second death of English Cricket?"
Chris, via TMS inbox1819: Australia 520-5 Adam Gilchrist reaches one of the most incredible Test match hundreds you could ever see. He gets it off 57 balls, putting him second in the all-time quick list by some distance. 1816: Australia 521-5 The world record attempt is over. Gilchrist can only score three from his three balls as Hoggard, somewhat cruelly but cleverly too, slides one way outside off stump and barely within Gilchrist's reach. Almost unbelievably, I feel bit of sympathy for him. I know he came in with the score 365-5, but this is the most astonishing, devastating, outrageous batting assault I can remember in Test cricket. Then again, I was only five-years-old when Viv slaughted the England bowlers around Antigua in April 1986.
"It might seem bad now but when we win this one with 50 from Monty and triumph in Melbourne we can look forward to a super new year party in Sydney."
The brilliantly-optimistic Steve, via text
1809: Australia 511-5 Gilchrist knows exactly what the record is and is playing it brilliantly. He finds gaps where there don't seem to be any, caning three brilliant fours off Steve Harmison. He's on 96 from 53 balls. He's got two more to break Viv Richards' 20-year-old record.
"Can't see Geraint Jones playing the same sort of innings."
My colleague Anna, in the world's most depressed office
1800: Australia 496-5 Monty is replaced by Hoggard to stop the mayhem. Clarke doesn't want it to stop, though, and walks across his stumps twice to slap the Yorkshireman through mid-wicket for four. Gilchrist launches yet another monumental six into the crowd with the cleanest hit you'll ever see. Call the police, this is turning into a crime scene.
"Has an Ashes series ever been curtailed on humanitarian grounds?"
John, via text1753: Australia 478-5 Michael Clarke plays a vicious thump down the ground for four off Sajid Mahmood, obviously taking umbrage at Gilchrist's show-stealing display at the other end. "If you are given a lemon tree, make lemonade," as former Indian opener Navjot Sidhu once said.
Historycheck: the first time in an Ashes Test match 24 has been hit off one over. It's also the first time an Australian has ever hit 24 in a single over in Tests.
1749: Australia 468-5 Adam Gilchrist speeds to his fastest Test match half-century, coming off just 40 balls. Next two balls he carts Monty way, way into the stand for two destructive sixes. The fifth ball rockets away for four. The final ball goes for a six that seems to never come down. 24 off that over, rarely have I witnessed carnage like it. He's on 73 from 44 balls, chasing down Viv Richards' Test record of 100 off 56 balls in 1986. 1743: Australia 444-5 Sajid Mahmood bowls another pretty fruitless over but there's no carnage this time, with Clarke looking much more circumspect than his livewire colleague.
"If Punter has any captaincy skills he'll declare within the next twenty minutes."
Baz, via TMS inbox1638: Australia 440-5 Gilchrist nears his half-century with a thunderous thwack down the ground off Monty, the ball flying into the stand after one bounce for four. A crushing blow.
1732: Australia 434-5 In a way I'm quite happy to see Gilchrist there. When you're trying anything to stay awake he's the perfect tonic. One pull shot misses by a mile, the next one rockets to the boundary off the middle of the bat. He's half in-form, half out. I'm not really sure anymore. It's lively, though.
1727: Australia 428-5 Gilchrist sweeps KP for four behind square on the leg side and then for three to deep mid-wicket, the four saved by an impressive Alastair Cook diving stop. Gilchrist is looking seriously in the mood for a big score and England could end the day 550 behind.
"Can anyone explain why Jon Lewis, the best English-eligible bowler over the last five years, has barely played for England?"
Will, via text
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1720: Australia 420-5 Sajid Mahmood is back on and Gilchrist helps a short ball on leg stump to the boundary for four. These guys have put on 50 already. Gilly then clips a full-toss away for three, a boundary only saved by some magnificent fielding from Monty who chases it down, pulls it back from the ropes one-handed and flings in a throw. So he couldn't bat and couldn't field? He looks like the best fielder out there. I'm not even kidding.
1716: Australia 413-5 KP comes on and finds extravagant turn immediately. Gilchrist looks uneasy and prods for one just wide of slip. Pietersen's got the sun cream literally all over his face and looks utterly ridiculous.
1711: Australia 410-5 Adam Gilchrist gets in on the act, running down the pitch and nailing Monty through the covers for four. He then clips the bowler over mid-wicket into the deep for two and ends by cutting late past slip for another boundary. England look like the last thing they need in the world now is a couple of hours of Gilchrist mayhem.
1706: Australia 397-5 CENTURY
Michael Clarke acknowledges the Waca crowd after reaching a brilliant hundred with a supreme shot past cover-point off Andrew Flintoff for four. A better knock than Hussey's, pretty much flawless stuff from the New South Wales man. "It's got to be embarrassing for the coach and the selection panel, what Panesar has done in this Test match. How does Geraint Jones get on the panel when his place is under pressure?"
Geoff Boycott on TMS1703: Australia 390-5 Monty continues to wheel away, desperate to get Clarke out before he reaches what would be a fantastically-deserved victory. The lead is now 419, which means England would need to break the Test record of highest runs scored in a second innings to win a match.
1701: Australia 388-5 Gilchrist wants to get after Flintoff, then again he pretty much just wants to get after anyone. He misses another attempted pull shot that slams into his midriff and decides to watch the rest of the over go past to Geraint Jones. I wonder how much he hates leaving the ball. 1657: Australia 386-5 Michael Clarke has raced on to 92 with a wild, slashing cut off Monty that flies wide of slip for four.
1652: Australia 382-5 My goodness me. Adam Gilchrist appears hopelessly out of touch, getting streakily off the mark with four from Flintoff with a shot in the air just wide of gully. However he ends the over with a stunning back-foot cover drive for four, like the Gilchrist of old.
"Monty has worked so hard on his game to improve the things he's not that good at and he tries so much, he'll never be criticised by the Barmy Army."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS "Duncan Fletcher should call up Alan Pardew and ask him what's the weather like on Redundancy Beach."
Tariq, via TMS inbox1644: Australia 371-5 Michael Clarke plays another fine pull shot to lash Flintoff for four and the skipper hasn't looked anything like getting a wicket in this innings. He's captained well though, and his faith in Monty has finally been rewarded.
1639: WICKET Australia 365-5 (Symonds 2)
If Monty Panesar gets Andrew Symonds out again does he get to keep him? Lovely bit of bowling from Mr One-man team, getting one to bounce at Symonds who can only push tentatively and give Paul Collingwood an easy catch at slip. You can only say it so many times, but well done Monty. Eight wickets in the game, a monumental performance. If only Gilo was wheeling away from the other end too! 1635: Australia 361-4 Clarke picks up where he left off, beautifully clipping Flintoff off his pads for four. He shouldn't be bowling there, but these fellas have brutally capitalised on anything off target today. 390 ahead now, Australia.
"Send in the clowns - Andrew Symonds, batsmen, bowler and all-round entertainer should smash the English circus."
Mirvo, from Brisbane via TMS inbox
1630: The England boys take to the field, hopefully buoyed by Monty's dismissal of Hussey just before the break. Six wickets in 20 minutes and 110-0 at the close is what the Fremantle Doctor orders for this session.
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"After this performance, the Barmy Army should have grounds to sue the ECB. The team can only perform as well as their preperation allows."
Bill from Hull, via text
"The situation is more or less hopeless. But you have to keep ploughing on, you can't look too far ahead when you're in trouble. Monty could get Gilchrist, though he'll have to get Symonds out first."
Vic Marks on TMS
"Whoever organised this tour needs shooting. A lack of match fitness and form is the result of playing so few matches prior to this series. As a Brit living over here in Oz its hell. As for Jones, is he related to Duncan Fletcher? What else does Read have to do for a game?"
Daniel, via TMS inbox
TEA
1609: WICKET Australia 357-4 (Hussey 103)
Monty Panesar is back on with the new ball and he ends Michael Hussey's wonderful vigil at the Waca, getting the faintest of edges behind to Geraint Jones with a back-foot defensive prod. Didn't look like he got near it, to be fair to Mr Cricket. The Ungetoutable is out, but he's played another fabulous hand for the hosts here. "It's frightening, the way these two are playing, just frightening. I can't remember seeing any youngster so brutal and assured against pace and spin so early in his caree as Clarke."
Sundaram, via TMS inbox
1601: Australia 347-3 CENTURY
Michael Hussey reaches his century with a Pietersen-esque cross-bat pull straight past the bowler for four stunning runs. Well done fella, not your best effort of the Ashes but a richly-deserved century nevertheless. Sometimes you just have to accept it's too good. Clarke rocks on to the back foot and hurls Harms through point for four more (351-3).1600: Australia 343-3 Clarke plays an ungainly chop past slip for four off a disbelieving Steve Harmison and then takes three as Pietersen takes an age to pick up and throw having run from point to pick up the ball. I know it's hot, but it's still pretty inadequate.
1557: Australia 335-3 Hoggy is still running in and goes up for a big LBW shout against Clarke, the ball looking like it was running down the leg side until replays suggest it would have clipped the top of the stump. Clarke fairly hammers the next ball for four past cover to rub salt into the wound.
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"There are lots of its and buts but the facts are that in the Ashes so far England have been comprehensively outplayed."
Vic Marks on TMS1552: Australia 328-3 Clarke slaps Harmison through extra-cover for four and then gets four leg-byes. From the fifth ball, Harms gets one to rear off a length and smacks Clarke on the glove, causing the 25-year-old quite a lot of pain. The physio comes on, but not for long, he's ok.
1547: Australia 320-3 Hussey plays a glorious cover drive for three to the ludicrously long boundary at the Waca to bring up his highest score against England. The Ungetoutable is moving seemlessly towards a century, even playing and missing against Hoggard in the process.
1543: Australia 316-3 Hussey pivots on that back foot and dispatches Harmison away just in front of square leg for two soul-destroying fours, for the big Durham fast bowler if not Mr Cricket. Michael Clarke then reaches a fine 50 by clipping a yorker into the leg side for two. "Your best chance in Test cricket is the new ball. I cannot believe why England have only got one slip in place, and Strauss is wider of first slip too. Even club cricketers want two slips for a new ball."
Geoff Boycott on TMS1538: Australia 304-3 Not being able to use industrial language is pretty hard when things like this happen. Hussey gets a proper edge to a great Hoggard delivery and Andrew Strauss gets his right hand to the ball but can only deflect it away for four. Remember last summer when Strauss took that mental one-handed catch? That sums up the difference.
"Once you get in, this pitch is a great one to bat on. You need more than luck to get a batsman out when they're in on this. England need the new ball to move, but perseverance is their best option now."
Geoff Boycott on TMS
1530: Australia 300-3 Nothing doing for Harms, either. I'm tucking into the Jelly Babies now, I've no idea what time it in back here in blighty or even what day it is. I bet Ricky Ponting feels like a kid in a sweet shop, or he will when he gets his hands back on that little urn. Oops, think I'm going to be sick. Never liked the green ones.
"Looking at Mahmood's figures, wouldn't we have been better off playing an extra batsman and having Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood as the fifth bowler option?"
Ian Graham, Wales, via TMS inbox
1526: Australia 299-3 Hoggy gets the new cherry in his hand and it is swinging away, but these two are firmly set now, seeing it like the proverbial football. Let's hope Harms has more luck from the other end. Talking of football he's a Newcastle fan, so he must always be praying for a miracle.
"Our handling of the little urn has been frankly pathetic! Incompetence and fundamental errors have weakened our defence immeasurably. Questions need to be asked."
Another of the great unnamed, via text1521: Australia 295-3 Clarke carves Mahmood through the covers for three, it's a long chase for Monty in the ludicrous Perth heat but he sticks to his guns, pulls it in and prevents one run. If we win by one wicket, that just might be crucial. I feel sorry for Monty, he's bowled an awful lot today. I once bowled 14 overs of left-arm spin on the trot and could barely move my arm for a week. Didn't get any wickets, either, in case you were wondering.
1516: Australia 288-3 It's still decent stuff from Monty P, but he's not even threatening to threaten these two. New ball due after one over, let's get Hoggy back on and that new ball swinging all over the shop. I'm trying, I'm really trying. "We know you are, pipe down," you say. I'm slowly losing the will to live.
1512: Australia 284-3 Not the best from Mahmood. Shunted around the park for ones and twos and chucks a no-ball in there to boot. It's becoming one of those days for England now, the half-chances and stifled appeals have disappeared and they seem a pretty unhappy bunch. I'd gladly swap places with any of them, to be fair. Even Geraint Jones.
"As much as we love to support our own team, at the end of the day England don't have the guile. They talk a good game, very similar to the football team for the World Cup, but never quite match the expectations that they set in the press"
Alana, via TMS inboxNote to Duncan Fletcher:
"You cannot prevent the consequences of your mistakes."
Quote from former Indian opener Navjot Sidhu
1503: Australia 278-3 A better over from Mahmood, but something tells me he's not going to be the guy who runs through this batting line-up. We need to focus on batting well when our turn comes and winning in Melbourne and Sydney. Wonder what odds you could get on that happening. At six o'clock on Saturday morning I'd bet on just about anything.
1458: Australia 276-3 Monty goes back around the wicket to Hussey but he clips him away for a single. Clarke then pulls him violently for four. Monty's tried just about everything, but it seems destined not to be his day. If only I could jinx those Aussies like I did England yesterday. Did I say sorry enough times? Sorry.
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"It's tough for bowlers in this sort of weather. A lot of close calls have gone against them and the weather has compounded their frustrations. The Fremantle Doctor is in, but it's still hot."
Geoff Lawson on TMS1453: Australia 270-3 Blimey, I'd forgotten Saj Mahmood was even playing. The Lancastrian comes back into the attack for just his third over of the innings and is promptly pulled for four by Hussey, spinning wonderfully in his crease to play the stroke with ease.
"Bye bye Ashes, it was nice while it lasted."
Phil, via TMS inbox
1444: Australia 263-3 Hussey, who has now recorded half-centuries in his last six innings, nurdles Flintoff excrutiatingly down to the vacant third man area for four. This is it, this is when they kill off England. Flat, the visitors are looking in the field. Something, somehow, needs to lift them. The captain looks unlikely to provide it. Monty???
"The fiasco of Jones attempting that catch when square leg was closer and coming from the right direction highlights the indecision that always surrounds players who are not comfortable at the required level."
Steve Plampin via TMS inbox1439: Australia 256-3 Clarke crashes Monty straight back down the pitch, over the bowler's head for four. Brilliant execution from the confident young batsman. Two balls later he pulls a short one straight through mid-wicket for four, then creams him through extra-cover off the back foot. Problems here for Monty.
1435: Australia 243-3 Flintoff comes on for Harms, clearly the quick bowlers won't be able to last long in this stifling heat. Freddie bowls a cracker to Clarke which clips the top of his pad, just a touch too high. I can barely remember a time when England had so many close calls.
"The England selectors are to blame. Picking their favourites - Jones, Giles & Anderson all without form or fitness. Awful preperation."
Darren from Wolverhampton, via text "Hussey's gone close to 100 in every innings he's played so far in the Ashes. This is easily the worst innings he's played so he'll probably go on and get his century."
Vic Marks on TMS
1427: Australia 238-3 A short ball from Harms is swatted away for four by Michael Hussey before he reaches 50 in ungainly fashion, top-edging a pull shot that Geraint Jones runs 30 yards to try and catch but can only just get the edge of his gloves too. Yet another near-miss for a desperately unfortunate England side. 1423: Australia 232-3 Wonderful shot from Clarke, using his dancing feet to glide down the track and superbly loft Monty over mid-on for six. If these two get going this session England are in deep trouble.
1420: Australia 224-3 Harms is bowling more accurately than he has done for a while in this match and another fine over concedes just one to Michael Clarke. England have done a great job so far today but they still desperately need wickets to get stuck into the Aussie middle and lower order. The game isn't away from them yet, but it's not far from it.
1416: Australia 223-3 He really is appealing, this Monty character. A nicely flighted ball turns and raps Michael Clarke on the front pad, but once more Rudi Koertzen shakes his head in almost mock disgust at being asked the question.
1414: Australia 220-3 Steve Harmison roars in and bowls a fine over on a probing line and length on or around Michael Hussey's off stump.
1410: Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke walk to the Waca wicket with Australia on 219-3, a lead of 249 over England.
"There will be people who have a wicket-keeping agenda with Geraint Jones and Chris Read, but you cannot say that was a missed stumping by Jones off Read, no chance."
Jonathan Agnew on TMSEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
"It's occurred to me that we haven't beaten a full-strength Australia in Australia since Sir Geoff Boycott's glory days of 1970-71."
Daniel, from Sheffield, via text For those England fans who might have given up already, history tells you not to throw in the towel so easily. On a draw, anyway. Just a year ago, South Africa batted for four sessions in Perth to save the game against Australia having been set 491 to win. Struggling on 138-4, Jacques Rudolph finished on 102 not out to help his country avoid defeat. So who's gonna be England's batting saviour at the Waca? LUNCH
1330: Australia 220-3 Clarke is beaten by a beauty from Monty and only just makes his crease as Jones whips the bails off. Another LBW appeal is turned down and the England players trudge off the field for lunch pondering what might have been in a strange old session.
1326: Australia 218-3 Where has this Steve Harmison been hiding? A brutal bouncer crashes into Hussey's helmet before a stunning off-cutter beats the outside edge. Hussey then top-edges a pull which flies over the slips for four. Still not England's morning.
1322: Australia 212-3 Monty goes up for another appeal as Hussey misses a sweep, before Mr Cricket drives him through the covers for a handsome three. Monty is still bubbling away, still with a spring in his step, looking like he could make an impression on this innings.
1319: Australia 209-3 Another near miss, this time for Harms, as Clarke plays the ball on the leg side in the air, just in front of Alastair Cook at square leg.
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1314: Australia 207-3 Great over from Monty, well done son. But Michael Clarke gets off the mark by scampering through for a single into the offside. It makes my blood boil that England can switch off straight after a wicket and let a guy get on the scoresheet so easily. Aaaarrrrrgggghhh.
1311: WICKET Australia 206-3 (Hayden 92)
A fuming Matthew Hayden storms off the Waca having missed out on a century. Makes your heart bleed, doesn't it? Full marks for perseverance to good old Monty Panesar, who gets one to turn and spit up and Hayden cuts him to Paul Collingwood at slip, who hangs on at the second attempt. 1307: Australia 202-2 Hussey strokes Flintoff past mid-off for four, the first classy shot through the offside we've seen from Mr Cricket today. Hussey then takes three through the covers, the run-rate noticably increasing.
"I gave that Hussey pad-bat out when I first saw it and I've no reason not to think it was out now I've seen two replays. It rolled up the pad and hit the bat and was caught. Never mind."
Geoff Boycott on TMS1302: Australia 192-2 Oh Monty. Hussey sweeps brilliantly for four before Hayden twice misses cross-bat shots and is the victim of Monty appeals that rarely look like succeeding. "He looks at the umpire as innocent as a freshly laid egg," as former Indian opener Navjot Sidhu once said of someone.
1259: Australia 187-2 Guess what just happened? Go on, guess. Yep, Flintoff bowls a jaffer and it goes straight through Hussey, somehow missing bat, glove, stumps, everything. It's a crying shame that England have bowled so well this morning and not got the wickets they deserve.
1252: Australia 184-2 I can't believe this. Monty throws one up and Hussey appears to pad-bat the ball into Alastair Cook's arms at silly mid-off. The England boys go up and Rudi Koertzen seems to nod his head, before eventually giving it not out. For the love of all that is holy. "He'd never walk, he's that sort of person," says Geoff Lawson. I'll bet.
"Does the trumpeter often burst into the British national anthem halfway through a day at the cricket?"
Geoff Lawson on TMS1248: Australia 180-2 Flintoff's on for the first time today, getting one to rear up at Hussey, who is beginning to look more settled. Maiden for the captain, who needs one of those vintage 2005 spells now to drag his team right back into the contest. Have no fear Monty fans, he's coming on from the other end. Keep praying!
1242: Australia 180-2 Not England's morning, I'm afraid. Hayden takes a wild swing off Hoggard, gets an inside edge and the ball sails down to very fine leg for four. In a way I do admire Hayden's bullish approach to the game, I have to admit. Damn him.
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"0333 GMT - Jones chirps "well bowled Hoggard". He's not even good at encouraging people. Surely that's too formal? His outrageously stupid dismissal in the first innings is the defining moment of the series so far. Read should never have been dropped in a million years. Basic."
Michael, via text1236: Australia 171-2 The lead is over 200 now and this tight bowling from England needs to translate into wickets. Quick smart. Expect the bowlers to change a lot today in what appears to be a scorching day in Perth.
1231: Australia 167-2 Now Monty's appealing, too. The Sikh of Tweak raps Hussey on the pad and shoves his left arm into the air, once again to no avail. Tight stuff from both ends though from England, top effort so far today.
1225: Australia 166-2 Monty Panesar comes on for the first time today and it's standard stuff first up, concentrating on putting the ball in the right place. Just in case you've missed it so far, if you want to look like Monty...
"I was having this wonderful dream about Scarlett Johansson and a yogurt pot when suddenly she turned into Harms. I woke with a start, turned on my PC and lo and behold, he's got Ponting. It was a sign! Skittle out the rest of them, Harms, and the yogurt's all yours."
Nick Mortimer via TMS inbox
1220: Australia 163-2 Boy the Australians have had a lucky little spell. Hayden clips Hoggard in the air to mid-wicket and it falls just out of reach of Alastair Cook. Heartbreakingly close to a massive breakthrough yet again.
1213: Australia 159-2 Clever stuff from Harms. He's bowling a good couple of feet fuller than yesterday and raps Hayden on the pads - tell you what, seen them given. Pitched maybe just on leg stump and hitting the top of middle-and-off. We need them, Aleem Dar, we need them. Hayden carts a short ball for four off the last ball. What did I just say, Steve?
1209: Australia 155-2 Hussey looks a bit unsure against Hoggy with Jones standing so close, but he gets four off the last ball with a cracking cut shot past gully. I wonder if Hussey will actually chance his name to Mr Cricket. "The name's Cricket, Mr Michael Hussey Cricket." Like John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood.
"If they get Hussey out then England are in with a chance, but if he digs in, then maybe not."
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS1201: Australia 149-2 Another great over from Hoggy, with Geraint Jones now standing up with the lack of pace in the pitch. Hoggy's aiming just outside off stump with shape back in to the left-handers and they aren't playing him that comfortably. Do you believe in miracles yet?
1156: Australia 149-2 Don't get too excited, but Harms is bowling really well. He finds the edge of Michael Hussey's bat, no mean feat at all, but the ball falls agonisingly short of first and second slip and runs away for four.
1152: Australia 144-2 Suddenly, England are at it in the field. Alastair Cook flings himself to his right to brilliantly stop a Matthew Hayden boundary and then Matthew Hoggard beats the edge of Hayden's bat. A return maiden for Hoggy.
1145: WICKET Australia 144-2 (Ponting 75)
Hang on Jon, just a cotton-picking minute. Steve Harmison, sticking to that decent line and length, gets Ricky Ponting to play slightly down the wrong line and he snicks it behind into the grateful gloves of Geraint Jones. Any chance Uri Geller is out there somewhere with his hands on a TV screen? If he isn't, he damn well should be. C'mon! "Aggers, you're right about England's chances - slim. And slim just left town."
Jon, via textPietersen runs straight off the pitch and is replaced by Ed Joyce.
1141: Australia 140-1 Pietersen really does get the most extravagant turn out of those giant hands for an off-spinner. Ponting does seem to care too much, cutting him ludicrously fine for four then jauntily dancing down the track and boffing him over mid-on for four. Experiment over, captain.
1137: Australia 128-1 Normal service resumed from the other end as Harmison gets busy against Ponting. Good line, good length, not much happening on that pitch now though. Keep it going Harms, you just never know fella.
"Pietersen bowls the first over of the day? White flag from England, sadly."
James Farrar, via TMS inbox "They are going to run everything damn hard these two to make sure England are batted completely out of the game."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS1133: Australia 126-1 Almost unbelievably, though clearly anything can and will happen with this England team, Pietersen opens the bowling for the day. Hayden swipes him for four to deep mid-wicket. For those of you who believe in miracles, check out this website:
1130: England take to the field at the Waca knowing they must take quick wickets to try and keep the Ashes alive.
"We need a bit of a new approach. Some of the players need a kick up the backside because they just haven't done it since the Ashes last year. I don't hold out any hope for them today."
Geoff Boycott on TMS "My dear brother, I can't believe you've lost us the Ashes. Nothing can compare to the heartache of knowing my own flesh and blood jinxed our Ashes efforts. P.S. Tell Monty he's a legend and Fletcher he's a *!?$"
Damian Stevenson, via email "It's not all over but England must change their focus. Instead of looking for a win, they have to try and draw the game. It's not negative, it's common sense. Flintoff's captaincy is fine but he's struggling badly with the bat. His team needs a big innings from him second time around."
Cricket legend Richie Benaud on BBC One's highlights programme
"I was optimistic this time yesterday, but it was very, very disappointing and the Ashes are sliding away. England have got a chance but they'll have to bat really well and for an awfully long time."
Ex-England skipper Tony Greig on BBC One's highlights programme "It looks a pretty good wicket and it's getting a lot better. South Africa batted for a day-and-a-half last year to save a Test, let's hope we can do the same only to win. But we know it could be another tough day."
England batsman Kevin Pietersen on the BBC
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