1823: So, Australia win the battle but England win the war. A couple of trademark innings today, the first from Hussey, the second from Collingwood, but it was the former's which counted most. Australia hit back hard in these last two games - but what, if any, influence will this series have on the Ashes? That kicks off in November, not long left...

47th over - WICKET - Swann c Harris b Tait 33 (Eng 235)
Forty-three required from 24 - apologies, that over below was the 46th, not the 47th (you'll have to manually refresh to see the change). Swann backs away, looking to crash Tait over the covers, but only succeeds in holing out to Harris. Game over.

46th over - 235-9 Jimmy Anderson is England's number 11 and Bollinger very nearly cleans him up with a bit of reverse first up. Anderson gets Swann on strike with an uppercut that lands just short of the fielder down at third-man and Swann tugs one round to corner for a single. What a shot that is from Anderson, seeing the length early, backing away and thumping Bollinger through the covers for four. Bit of width from Anderson and he misses with an attempted uppercut.

46th over - WICKET - Broad c&b Bollinger 3 (Eng 229-9)
Broad's gone and in what style - a full-blooded lofted drive from the Notts man and Bollinger sticks out his left mitt and it sticks.

45th over - 229-8 Swann and Broad have taken the powerplay, which means the Aussie can only have three men on the boundary. Broad gets off strike immediately with an off-drive before Swann spots the full-bunger from Harris and chips him over square-leg for four. AND ANOTHER! Real stand and deliver stuff this from Swann, rocking back and flat-batting Harris to the long-on fence. Another shin-high full-toss from Harris and Swann's filled his boots again, marmalising the ball straight over the bowler's head for four more. England require 49 from 30 balls - a few more whacks from Swanny, and who knows?

44th over - 216-8 Swann's in full-on irritating mode, for the Australians that is, dropping to on knee and middling a reverse slog-sweep for four. And another! He plays that shot rather well. Add that to a couple of braces and that's 14 from the over, England need 62 from 36 balls.

43rd over - 202-8 Powerplay-wise, I have absolutely no idea what England are doing. What are they waiting for, some humpty from Anderson? Broad is beaten outside off but he guides Tait into the covers for one two balls later. That's some serious reverse from Tait and Swann is sawn in two. Swann gets off strike before Broad gets some treatment, the ball rearing up off a length like a spitting cobra and causing the batsman to flinch.

42nd over - 200-8 Classic Colly knock that. Swann's off the mark with a couple courtesy of a sweep and he picks up two more with a sliced drive. Swann comes down the track to Smith and the leg-spinner bounces him! Tremendous stuff. Broad, who's really not developing into the batsman many thought he could be, is off the mark with a dab to square-leg. Still no powerplay...

41st over - WICKET - Collingwood b Tait 95 (Eng 194-8)
Swann's in but he's at the non-striker's end. Collingwood gone, advancing down the track and losing his leg-stump. Bit of reverse there, Tait's been pretty devastating today.

41st over - WICKET - Bresnan run out (Ponting) 34 (Eng 194-7)
Still no powerplay from England, little bid odd. Too straight from Tait and he's clipped to mid-wicket for one by Collingwood... that's England's hopes shattered, surely, Ponting with a piece of stellar fielding, picking up, turning and ripping out middle stump with Bresnan stranded.

40th over - 193-6 Collingwood moves to 92 with a nurdle to mid-wicket before Bresnan applies some throttle, slapping Harris over extra-cover for four. England opted not to take the batting powerplay, seemingly to the dismay of coach Andy Flower, but that's a pretty handy over nonetheless, nine from it. Time for some Shaun Tait...

39th over - 184-6 Bollinger short and Bresnan tugs him to deep mid-wicket for just the one run - Colly sent back by Bresnan. Bresnan with a rather airy cut shot and he's beaten. Ninety-four needed from 66 balls, only two from that Bollinger over...

38th over - 182-6 It's Ryan Harris and his first four balls are dots. But Bresnan gets a wide one fifth up and Bresnan stands tall and thwacks him through point for four. One more for Bresnan, he's 27 from 21 balls.

37th over - 177-6 Bresnan backs away and thumps Bollinger through point for four before steering to third-man for one more. England require 101 from 13 overs, don't think we'll be seeing Hussey again.

36th over - 171-6 Strange decision this to bowl Hussey - England, after all, aren't out of this yet and Hussey is doing not much else but offer up gimmes - a rank half-tracker is cut through point for four and before Colly follows up with a cover-drive for four more. Four singles from the over, England being kept alive by Ponting's very un-Australian compassion...

35th over - 159-6 Time for Collingwood to have a go, no point in dying wondering... rare full-bunger from Smith and Colly puts him away for four through mid-wicket having picked up a couple from the previous delivery...

34th over - 153-6 Mike Hussey into the attack now with his right-arm 'slow'. Three nurdled singles before Bresnan tucks into a short one and pulls him to the mid-wicket fence. Two more singles, plus a wide...

33rd over - 143-6 Collingwood uses his feet to Smith and clips him to mid-on for one but Bresnan can't get the leggy away, until the final ball, which Bresnan slaps down to third-man for three. One more for Collingwood, players take drinks.

32nd over - 137-6 Bresnan is England's new batsman and he's off the mark with a square-drive. Colly yanks Hopes round the corner for one before Bresnan edges past keeper Paine for four. A single apiece to complete the over, England need 141 from 108...

31st over - 129-6 ... Smith spot on for the rest of the over, Colly unable to get him away...

31st over - WICKET - Wright c Marsh b Smith 21 (Eng 129-5)
One for Collingwood but Wright's gone next ball, slog-sweeping and Marsh taking another fine catch at full-length. Sparky, all-action cricketer, Marsh - he gives it a biff and gives it everything in the field.

30th over - 128-5 Collingwood moves to 63 with a clip off his pads for a couple and added two more singles in the over. One for Wright with a glide through point...

Graham, Barcelona - not matineeeing - in the TMS inbox: "After 30, Australia were 107-4. Do you think that maybe...?"

29th over - 123-5 Smith doesn't give it a Warne-like rip but he's got some guile - that one goes straight on, but Collingwood got some wood on it. Three singles from that over...

28th over - 120-5 Collingwood turns Hopes round the corner for a couple and he picks up another run with a tickle of his pads...

27th over - 117-5 Tait with a slower ball but it slips out and Collingwood chips him through square-leg for four. Short and wide from Collingwood and he picks up one more courtesy of a square-cut. Wright with an ease into the covers for two, England need 160 from 138 balls, which is doable...

26th over - 110-5 Hopes with some short stuff and Wright top-edges a pull over Paine's head and away for four. Boundaries coming at last, England need more of them.

25th over - 104-5 Too straight from Tait and Collingwood whips him to the wide long-on fence. That's not clever though, Collingwood missing with an airy waft outside off, but he makes amends with a top-edged pull for six. There were some serious skids on that delivery, it was whack it or wear it for Collingwood there - that's his fifty, his 26th in ODIs.

24th over - 94-5 Just two singles from Hopes' over, time for more from the Tait Express...

23rd over - 92-5 Wright dobbles to leg for one before Collingwood moves to 39 with an ease into the covers. Wright backs away with intent but it's only a single to point. Wanted - Boundaries...

22nd over - 87-5 It's Diego I feel sorry for, and I never thought I'd say that. A top-edged pull from Wright but he only gets one for it. One for Colly, another for Wright to mid-on...

21st over - 84-5 Collingwood clips Smith to mid-on for one and there are two more singles from the over... put another penny in them, they've stopped registering...

20th over - 81-5 Wright, who was off the mark with a crisply-timed cover-drive in the previous over, picks up a single into the off-side. Hussey with a fine diving save in the covers from a sweetly-timed Collingwood drive before Collingwood bags two with a glide to third-man. Did I ever tell you I have German blood pumping through my veins?

19th over - 78-5 Smith with a peculiar lbw appeal against Collingwood, the ball came off the face of his bat. This pair need to get a partnership going just to save face - they could do without two thumping defeats in the final two games of the series. One for Colly with a clump into the covers.

18th over - 76-5 It could be an early supper. Luke Wright's next in, a slip and a silly point in for Collingwood. Debate raging on TMS as to whether Ricky Ponting should attempt to persuade Shaun Tait back for the Ashes and you'd have to think that might be a good idea - who cares if he can only bowl four-over spells, if he rips out two of the top four batsmen, he's done his job. Maiden over from Hopes.

Jeff Thomson on TMS: "I'm not saying Pietersen's not trying but I don't think his mind's on the job, he looks all over the place to me..."

17th over - WICKET - Pietersen b Smith 0 (Eng 73-5)
Bit of luck there for Marsh, the ball bouncing off his chest and back into his mitts, but it was a cracking catch nonetheless. Kieswetter is Pietersen's runner but it's Collingwood on strike - he picks up a single to bring KP on strike and he lasts three balls, backing away and chopping a ball from leg-spinner Smith into his stumps.

16th over - WICKET - Morgan c Marsh b Hopes 9 (Eng 72-4)
That's Morgan hitting his straps, coming down the track and slapping Hopes through the covers for four. Simon Hughes has revealed that Morgan has never scored a ton at Lord's, so if ever there was a time... gone, crashing a half-tracker from Hopes to deep mid-wicket, where Marsh takes a pearler of a catch, on the dive and on the juggle. KP time...

15th over - 66-3 Bit of chin music for Morgan and he's beaten for pace, the ball ricocheting off his shoulder and racing away for four. Bollinger stares down the pitch at Morgan as if he's scum, sub-human scum... Morgan with a single, it's time for drinks...

14th over - 61-3 James Hopes of Townsville, Queensland, replaces Ryan Harris and Collingwood edges his first delivery down to third-man for one. After his swaggering start, Colly become all timid and self-effacing all of a sudden. Morgan finally gets off the mark with a nudge off his hip. One more single apiece and it's heavy going for England.

13th over - 56-3 Bollinger with some extra juice and Collingwood misses with a wild old hook shot. One for Collingwood with an inside-edge... Bollinger takes an age between deliveries, trudging back to his mark like the man who lost everything before turning and tearing in at almost full pace. Leg-side wide before there's a leg-bye off the thigh of Morgan and Colly nurdles a single to mid-wicket.

12th over - 52-3 England at sixes and sevens here, Morgan haring down the track, Collingwood not moving an inch and the Dubliner would have been out by a couple of frames. Collingwood nicks a single into the off-side, Morgan remains on nowt, although he's only faced three balls.

11th over - 51-3 Strangled lbw appeal from Bollinger against Collingwood, it was going over. Bollinger angles one across Colly and the right-handed batsman pulls his bat out of the way before picking up a single. Australia have got England by the jaffers and they're applying the squeeze.

10th over - 50-3 ...tidy over from Harris, just a Collingwood single from it. He's no-nonsense and bustling Harris but he's got some record in ODIs -16 matches and 40 wickets at 15.57...

9th over - 49-3 Too straight there from the chippy Bollinger and Collingwood eases off his pads for four. Colly, looking to wrest the initiative back England's way, comes down the track to Bollinger and gets a thick inside edge for one.

8th over - 44-3 Still no Pietersen because of that thigh injury, it's Eoin 'The Finisher' Morgan up the ramp next and he sees out the over.

8th over - WICKET - Kieswetter c Hussey b Harris 11 (Eng 44-3)
Kieswetter struggling with his timing but that's a nice shot, driving Harris on the up through the covers for four. Too straight from Harris and Kieswetter tickles him round the corner for a couple but he's gone next ball, looking to play to leg and getting a leading edge to Hussey at short-cover - sharp take, England tottering. What was that about England having the momentum heading into the Ashes?

7th over - 38-2 Release for England - width from Tait and Collingwood cares him through point for four. "Has anyone ever hit a hat trick ball for a six in any of the three cricket formats?" emails Shane Mundie from Australia. Anyone? What a shot that is from Colly, latching on to a half-tracker from Collingwood and crashing him over mid-wicket for six. Tait's pace dropping to the low-90s now, the poor lad's creamed after 24 balls, although he very nearly gets Colly chopping on.

Gethyn Howells in the TMS inbox: "Not quite opera but keeping up to date with the cricket must be the thing to do whilst working in the West End on matinee day! We're doing the same over the road at Oliver! Theatre Royal, Drury Lane! Not sure our seats are that great though!"

6th over - 25-2 Is this the finest Australian team ever assembled? Strike that - is it the best cricket team ever assembled? Collingwood clips Harris through mid-wicket for three, and yep, it's another blast from Tait - the Aussies have gone in hard - and very, very fast...

5th over - 22-2 Collingwood to face the final ball of the over and he manages to jam his bat down on an swinging yorker and the Durham man collects three. A correction on that Yardy dismissal - the batsman shouldered arms to that and the ball's flicked his pad and taken off. I think we'll be seeing another over from Tait...

5th over - WICKET - Yardy b Tait 0 (Eng 19-2)
Many thanks Martin, it's BD back in the box. That's a wicked delivery from Tait, this is a thrilling display of fast-bowling from the South Australian, the ball jagging back at Yardy, who's been bumped up the order, and scything him in two - it's too good for Paine, too, and it races away for four. And Yardy's gone! That's far too good for the Sussex man, the ball swinging in, pitching on middle and ripping out leg. Nasty, and I like it a lot...

5th over - WICKET - Strauss b Tait 6 (Eng 14-1)
Quick again from Tait, full and swinging in, just beats Strauss's inside edge to uproot his off-stump.

5th over - 10-0There's the first boundary. Short and a little loose, Strauss upper-cutting just wide of third man. Tait has that distinctive action with his right arm, carrying low.

4th over - 10-0 Ryan Harris replaces Bollinger after a single over. He may have been sunbathing yesterday - bit red underneath all the sunblock. Pitches one up to Kieswetter who flashes obligingly but doesn't make contact. Maiden over. Good over.

3rd over - 10-0 Tait pitches it up, interested in Kieswetter's defensive technique. He deals with it, then flicks the next one behind square. Strauss turns it to long leg, where Bollinger slides ably to prevent the boundary.

2nd over - 5-0 Doug Bollinger shares the new ball. Haven't seen much of him before - he looks like a first or second-change bowler from the Chappell era, bowling around 87mph but getting some swing on it. Strauss goes for a wild whoosh and what is rather unfairly called a wide.

1st over - 3-0 Tait is blazing in, around 97mph from the off. Second one goes leg side, then Strauss pushes forward to get off the mark. Craig Kieswetter fishes outside off-stump at a couple of full, swinging deliveries before flicking a delivery that is clocked at 100.1mph on the leg side for a single. Think that might be the first 100mph delivery in England but will check.

1458: We're off again, with Andrew Strauss taking strike to Shaun Tait. Dirs is just finishing off his lobster.

1434: Some emails coming in about not being able to tune in to the cricket - "Try tuning to Radio 4 and then selecting the secondary button - should do the trick", says my technical friend...

Richard Katz in the TMS inbox: "Not to be outdone, we're up at Stratford-Upon-Avon doing a Matinee of Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, also following your commentary. And we have Warwickshire and England's Jim Troughton's brother playing Romeo!"

1428: See you in a bit - Chris, Covent Garden (see below), I should point out I'm less of an opera fan than a man whose best friend does opera. I would say his aria as Idamante at the start of act two was magnificent, but my lord those chairs at the ENO are comfortable...

1425: Real slow burner of an innings that from Australia - plenty in it early on for the England bowlers and Australia really scrabbled around for 30 overs but that was a classic partnership between Hussey and Marsh, with plenty of startling cameos throughout the innings, the cricketing equivalent of a Robert Altman movie...

50th over - 277-7 ...plenty of action in this final over - Hopes is the new man in the middle and he's hit his first ball for six over point - Have. Some. Of. That. And there are four more, Broad looking for the slower ball bouncer and Hopes crashing it through long-on. Two from the final ball and that's another handy little knock from Hopes, 12 from three balls...

50th over - WICKET - Hussey c Anderson b Broad 79 (Aus 265-7)
... and another! Hussey picks up a couple more before mowing Broad to Anderson on the long-off boundary...

50th over - WICKET - Smith c Anderson b Broad 15 (Aus 263-6)
Smith's gone for 15 - good little cameo, but he perishes playing what can only be described as a double-fisted drive forehand, holing out to Anderson at long-on.

Chris, Covent Garden, in the TMS inbox: "As you're an opera fan you might like to know that some of the cast of Le Nozze Di Figaro at Covent Garden are following your commentary while we do a matinee. No Ozzies in the cast..."

49th over - 263-5 By the way, 5 live sports extra has switched to the tennis, the women's final, but you can still listen to the cricket online and on Radio Four longwave, if you are a listener of the old school. Frankly, England have been savaged the last 10 overs or so - four for Hussey, clearing his right leg and spraying Anderson through the covers for four and there's four more with a pull to the square-leg fence. A direct hit would have done for Hussey one ball later but he survives and makes the most of it, dropping to one knee and ramping Anderson over the shoulder for four.

48th over - 248-5 Hussey's lost a chunk of his bat after playing a scythe through point and he requires a new one. That's the problem with modern things, they don't last. Smith rolls his wrists and hooks Anderson for one and Hussey gives him back the strike. Smith with a reverse pull - the Aussie boys have been practicing that shot - and Hussey finishes off a pretty poor over from Bresnan by dispatching a low full-toss into the Mound Stand for six - just one wicket in five in this series from Bresnan, questions remain about his claims as an opening bowler. There are five wickets down of course, not four...

47th over - 237-5 There's Hussey's fifty, his 30th in ODIs, and it came at a run a ball, before Smith unfurls a dreamy stroke, getting his left leg out of the way and lacing Anderson through extra-cover for four. One more for Smith before Hussey slips up a gear, heaving Anderson over mid-wicket for six.

46th over - 224-5Mes (see below), I have only one regret in life and it involves a girlfriend's 30th birthday, lots of drink and a birthday cake, not the state of Australian cricket. Bresnan spearing one in to leg-stump and that's bread and butter for Hussey, who tucks him away for four. A couple more singles before Mr Cricket misses out on a wide full-toss from Bresnan. Smith off the mark with a tuck to square-leg, he looks a spunky character, and two more for Hussey with a with a tickle off his pads.

From Mes in London via text: "Are you regretting that 30th over statement yet?"

45th over - WICKET - Marsh c Morgan b Swann 59 (Aus 213-5)
A few singles before Swann lands his man, Marsh going for more humpty and Morgan taking a fine catch over his shoulder on his home ground.

Ryan in Berlin in the TMS inbox: "I see that the writer David Peace is now planning a Clough-style novel about Boycott's relationship with the Yorkshire Board. As a composer, I'm thinking this would make a marvellous grand opera in five acts. I can only envision Domingo in the role of Ray Illingworth. Carreras would play Boycs, of course."

44th over - 208-4 This pair are rather proving what we always suspected, namely that it's a pretty decent track once the new ball has stopped playing tricks and there are runs to be had. Pietersen's off again, thigh strain I'm told, no idea why he bothered coming back on again. There's Shaun Marsh's half-century courtesy of a clip to mid-wicket and that's his seventh in ODIs and came from 44 balls and included two sixes and four fours. That's some weapon Marsh is wielding - full-bunger from Anderson on leg stump and it sounds like a rifle shot as Marsh swings him over mid-wicket for another maximum. All of a sudden 260 looks on...

43rd over - 199-4 Strauss looks to take the pace off the ball, recalling Swanny, but that hasn't exactly worked, Hussey persuading the ball to the extra-cover boundary. One for Hussey before Swann has a very good leg before appeal turned down by Umpire Dar, who must have thought it hit bat before pad, rather than the other way round. Two more for Hussey with a clip off his pads - Pietersen's back on the pitch, hobbling...

42nd over - 189-4 England have a chat before play resumes which suggests Marsh has rattled them slightly. Width from Broad and Marsh threads a drive into the covers for a couple before Broad sends down a huge wide, a wide that suggests he wants to avoid Marsh's wrath at all costs. Marsh and Hussey exchange singles before Marsh stands and delivers, straight over long-off for six, and follows up with a sweet late cut for four. Nineteen from that over, 250 very much on...

41st over - 174-4 Five men in a ring on the off-side as Anderson strays onto Marsh's pads, a full-bunger, and Marsh turns him away for four. Four more for Marsh with a delicate dab round the corner and with him around, Australia could still make 240-odd.

40th over - 162-4 Batting powerplay with 10 overs remaining and England turn to Broad. Hussey with a straight drive and the ball ricochets off the stumps and he runs up a couple. A sliver of cheese indeed, and not a slither. Sorry. Hussey nicks a quick single to extra-cover, the throw from Collingwood missing the stumps, before Marsh gloves a hook shot over the wicket-keeper for four. That's a ripper from Marsh, who's on to a short one from Broad in a flash and whip-cracking him into the stands for six. Head height all the way, dig out the hard hats.

39th over - 147-4 I see Domingo's turned baritone - a triumph, apparently. Hussey with a pair of braces, the first from a tug through mid-wicket, the second a clip off his pads. One more for Hussey with a prod into the covers off the bowling of Wright. A light Lord's hubbub and nothing more at the moment, like the lid of gently rattling atop a saucepan.

Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox: "What happened to Young after he departed from the Crobsy, Stills, Nash and Young? Is it true that he teamed up with someone called Ernst, who was subsequently implicated in the accounting scandal over the failure to disclose Repo 105 transactions to investors in the then popular combo, The Lehman Brothers', with Young now regarded as a key culprit in the 2008 financial crisis. Pop music has a lot to answer for."

38th over - 144-4 All milking at the moment, this pair dealing in ones. Bit of ragged stuff behind the stumps from Swann to allow Marsh a scampered single...

37th over - 137-4 Hussey charges Bresnan and plays a rather unconvincing chip over mid-wicket for one. Marsh with a nurdle to mid-wicket and it's a real slog this for the Aussie - bit of movement for England early on and all of a sudden the ball's not going through with the same sort of zip. Another couple of singles before Pietersen looks like he's been snipered - innocuous piece of fielding but it leads to him taking himself off the field. Didn't look good that. Two for Hussey with a yank to leg.

36th over - 130-4 Marsh genuflects and sweeps for a few before Swanny gets his mates hopping with a ball that turns and almost squeezes through Hussey's gate. Single for Hussey with an ease down the ground before Marsh nicks thr strike with a dab into the off-side. David (see below) - yes, but you're forgetting, we're specifically talking about favourite pop songs here. Anyway, this conversation is redundant, everyone who knows anything about anything knows the best pop song of all time is I Want You Back by the Jackson Five.

David Whitley, Sheffield, in the TMS inbox: "Picking Groove Is In The Heart as the best song ever is a bit like picking the Shawshank Redemption as your favourite film or Crunchy Nut Cornflakes as your favourite cereal. If I'm being cool, I'll go for Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson. Otherwise, it has to be Would I Lie To You by Charles and Eddie. Which is GREAT."

35th over - 125-4 Bresnan back into the attack, the Collingwood Experiment didn't last long. Bit of zing from the Yorkshireman, beating Hussey with one that jags off the seam, before the left-handed batsman mis-times a pull for one. One more for Marsh with a work to mid-wicket... drinks...

34th over - 123-4 Swann still has a slip in which is a rarity with 33 overs on the board. Hussey with a single before Marsh prods into the covers for one more. Two more singles and a leg-bye from that over - if this cricket match was a sandwich, it would be consist of nothing more than a slither of medium-strength cheddar between two slices of unbuttered wholemeal bread.

33rd over - 118-4 Four singles from the over of new bowler Collingwood, who's splitting the seam and serving up medium-paced off-cutters...

32nd over - 114-4 Just realised that the blurb at the top says email Mark Mitchener - don't, email me. Patrick in Sheffield throws in Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby, a former Golden Gloves lightweight champion, as a nominee for best pop song ever, just as Hussey works Swann through point for one. Next someone will be nominating Love Changes (Everything) by Climie Fisher. Marsh with a leading edge into the covers, Australia will be lucky to make 220 at this rate.

31st over - 112-4 'Mr Cricket' is next up the ramp - enter Michael Hussey, who still averages over 50 in 146 ODIs. You don't so much need a ball to get rid of Hussey than a water cannon, and his country needs him now. He's off the mark with a work into the off-side and four more singles follow from that over from Yardy...

31st over - 112-4 'Mr Cricket' is next up the ramp - enter Michael Hussey, who still averages over 50 in 146 ODIs. You don't so much need a ball to get rid of Hussey than a water cannon, and his country needs him now. He's off the mark with a work into the off-side and four more singles follow from that over from Yardy...

30th over - 107-4 I am about to make a big claim - I can't help feeling, having watched this Australian team for the last five games, that it's not very good, perhaps the most ordinary Australian team since the mid-1980s - and they were ordinary. That shot from Paine was a ruddy nightmare, almost a reverse-hook.

30th over - WICKET - Paine b Swann 54 (Aus 106-4)
Swann's got another one, and this is a biggun - Paine attempting the reverse sweep and getting his stumps splattered.

29th over - 106-3 Stephen Stills is actually in the TMS box today, between innings, if you fancy. Yards races through another miserly over, just one from it, a single to long-on from Paine.

Paul in Liverpool in the TMS inbox: "Michael Yardy is like an international-level version of the 45-year-old blokes who seem to dominate the level of club cricket that I play at. Comes in off a few paces, doesn't really turn it but spears it in the blockhole every time. Very effective and very frustrating to bat against. (Although I suppose at least Yardy weighs less than 18 stone and can still run at something more than a 'dad trot'). Regardless, I think Yardy is actually now a really integral part of the balance of this England side - he complements the more attacking Swann very well."

28th over - 105-3 Right then, Australia are in a bit of a pickle here, more rebuilding to be done. Shaun Marsh is the new batter but it's Paine on strike and he's beaten by a ball that goes on with the arm. Paine with a reverse sweep for one before Marsh is beaten by a crackerjack, a real fizzer.

28th over - WICKET - White c Yardy b Swann 20 (Aus 104-3)
It's Swann time, which must mean it's time for a wicket... yep, dreadful shot from White, plonking a drive straight down Yardy's neck at long-off. They should call Swann 'The Postman', he always delivers...

27th over - 104-2 Paine brings up his fifty, his fifth in ODIs, with a cut for four. A rather sedate knock from the Aussie opener, from 78 balls, but they'll need him to stick around. That's rancid from White, looking to moo one over mid-wicket and very nearly losing his off-stick.

26th over - 98-2 Wright with a bumper and White has a punt, top-edging for four over the wicket-keeper's head. Australia really need White to click into top gear here and start giving it some humpty. One for him with a push to point before Paine picks up a brace with a glide to third-man - nice fielding from Broad on the slide.

25th over - 89-2 Dear old Yards continues with his left-arm spears and Paine picks up four courtesy of a nicely-executed reverse sweep.

24th over - 83-2 White with a dainty clip to square-leg for one before Paine pulls out a shot which only its mother could love, and ugly heave to mid-wicket for three. The average first innings total in 48 ODIs is just 230, although those states stretch back to then days of Boycott. That said, the Aussies will have to go some to surpass that at this rate...

Former England bowler Gus Fraser on TMS: "One-day cricket is different in England, when the ball does a bit in the morning. It's not the same as on the sub-continent when you start whacking everything from the fourth over onwards, and I think it's a better game because of it."

23rd over - 78-2 "He's not one of those blokes many kids would want to be in the playground," says the man to my left of Michael Yardy, 'The Dartist'. That my be true but the left-arm slow-man is a pretty useful tool to have in your box, just one run from his first over, a single for White off his pads.

22nd over - 77-2 Paine angles Wright down to third-man for one before White moves into double figures with a clip to mid-wicket... Australia need to get a wriggle-on here...

21st over - 75-2 Loose from Paine, walking down the pitch to an off-cutter from Broad and very nearly getting castled. Paine's finding this a real struggle out there, and now he's turned his back on a short ball from Broad, the ball striking him on the blade. Good over that from Broad, just one from it, the Notts man switching up his pace and making it sticky for the batsmen. Any danger of some emails? Chap - a fellow journalist - told me last night (after the opera) that snooker was so big back in the 80s that the Masters was a nailed-on back-page splash. The story goes that during the '86 Masters, some football match or something was in danger of usurping the snooker, so a gang of snooker journos ganged together and tried to persuade Joe Johnson to announce he'd had a heart attack in the middle of a break. Remarkable. And probably made-up.

20th over - 74-2 Three singles from Wright's over as Jeff Thomson unveils the quote of the day so far, announcing that "the only 'burbles' at Melbourne in 1975 were in their undies..." Smashing.

19th over - 71-2 Three singles from Broad's over before Paine rocks back to a short one from broad and slaps him to the square-leg fence. Paine scuttles to outside off and plays a lavish heave for just one run...

18th over - 63-2 Luke Wright of Sussexshire into the attack and the new bat is Cameron White, who opens his account with a 'Billy Bragg', a drive struck squarely and sweetly for four. The driest year since 1920, apparently, which explains why the groundsman's left a bit of stubble on the pitch. One more for White, and indeed one more for Paine... oh, and another for White, a poke to third-man...

'Not-so-puzzled' Richard in Howden in the TMS inbox: "It seems everyone for England has luminous armpits and I'm an eejit. For what it's worth, Pure by The Lightning Seeds gets my shout as top pop song of all time."

17th over - WICKET - Ponting c Kieswetter b Broad 15 (Aus 55-2)
Huge wicket for England - short ball from Ponting, the Aussie skipper goes for the pull and feathers a catch to England wicketkeeper Kieswetter. Ponting looked in formidable nick, ding-dong, the witch is dead...

16th over - 54-1 What happened in the old footy last night? Opera. Coliseum. Did I mention? A medal for Paine on the thigh as Anderson gets one to jag back at him. One for Paine with a paddled pull, Ponting having already picked up one to square-leg. That's a bullying shot from Ponting, the Aussie skipper skipping down the track and punching Anderson down the ground for four. The cricketing equivalent of a quick yank of the school tie followed by a knee to the reproductives.

15th over - 48-1 Broad digs in a bumper which Paine plays well, swaying back and keeping his eyes on it. Another bumper from Paine and there is just one run from the over, a single to square-leg from Punter.

14th over - 47-1 Anderson is wheeled back into the attack as the chap in charge announces he has no idea what he's doing, which is strangely comforting actually. Two from the over, both singles, this pair in no hurry.

13th over - 45-1 Just the one run from Broad's over, a tuck off the hip for one, as the astonishing news reaches me that Stephen Stills, of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) will be popping into the TMS commentary box at some point in the future. He's a cricket fan, apparently. Is there a finer pop song than For What It's Worth? Deee-Lite's Groove Is in the Heart, perhaps?

12th over - 44-1 "Dirs in mug setback shock" is the headline in the office as the work experience chap does a round of teas. Disaster. Complete and utter. I really can't overstate this enough. That's a superlative stroke from Punter - a shot that says "I'm in nick, I've got your number, I'm gonna make you grovel" - on-drive for four from a ball that pitched outside off.

11th over - 37-1 Paine pushes into the covers for one to bring Ponting on strike. Poor ball from Broad, a leg-side bumper which is called a wide, before Ponting gets off the mark with a truncated cut shot through cover-point for four. Contemptuous.

10th over - 31-1 Ponting comes tumbling down the pavilion steps and sees out the final ball of that Broad over. Aggers reveals there's trouble on the underground today, which might explain why there are a few empty seats still at Lord's. Exaggerated leave from Punter, the ball from Bresnan getting plenty of bounce outside off, before Bresnan serves up a leg-side wide, Ponting having a swipe and missing. Excellent spell this from Bresnan, this time he gets one to spit off the pitch and leave a groping Ponting, who takes one hand off the handle.

9th over - WICKET - Watson c Anderson b Broad 14 (Aus 27-1)
Broad into the attack now and that's too short and Watson rocks back and slaps him through mid-wicket for four. Two slips in for Broad to Watson and that's a wicket! Nothing to do with the slips though, Watson was looking for the pull again and he's shanked it straight to the man at mid-on.

8th over - 23-0 Better from Paine, easing an over-pitched delivery from Paine to the extra-cover fence. Bresnan retaliates with a ball that beats Paine outside off and Paine is beaten again attempting an angled glide. Heavy weather this for the Aussie openers, although if they can ride out these choppy waters, there may be runs later...

7th over - 19-0 One more for Paine before Watson leaves confidently, the ball nipping back once again and clearing his stumps by no more than a few inches. One for Watson before Paine up a streaky single courtesy of a top-edged hook, the ball landing just short of the man down at long-leg.

6th over - 16-0 We're having scorecard problems apparently - I'm going to square with you, I have no idea how to fix it but the man to my left reckons he might know a man who can. Jaffer from Bresnan, the ball leaving a groping Paine off the pitch, before the Tasmanian picks up one with a glide to third-man.

'Puzzled' Richard in Howden in the TMS inbox: "Why does Jimmy A have luminous green armpits?"

5th over - 15-0 Replays suggest Watson did actually feather that ball from Anderson's previous over, although to be fair to the umpire, it took quite a few replays to become conclusive. Decent shot from Paine, a nudge down the ground for three.

4th over - 12-0 Bresnan gets one to jag back at Paine, who could do with a few runs today, he's looked pretty ordinary in this series if I'm being honest. Paine has a slash at a ball outside off and misses - that was the shot of a man under pressure - before playing and missing again. Paine nicks the strike with a single.

3rd over - 10-0 Fetch that - short from Anderson and Watson's onto it in a flash, tugging him to the mid-wicket fence. And again, this time not so convincing, but it's four more all the same. Yardy is moved round to in front of the Mound Stand and Anderson puts some extra revs on his next delivery, getting one to angle in to Watson and very nearly take the glove. England appeal, but the umpire's having none of it, and rightly so.

2nd over - 1-0 The jury is out on Tim Bresnan as an opening bowler, the main worry being that he delivers the ball from too wide of the crease. He gets Watson to nibble at one that wobbles off the seam and his final ball is a peach, squaring Watson up and beating his dangling blade. Good start this.

1st over - 1-0 Morning all, Benjamin here just as Anderson's first ball spits off the pitch and beats Watson first up. Watson is off the mark next ball, squirting a single to point, before the fresh-faced Tim Paine is scythed in two by a ball that jags back off the seam. Good first over that. Did I mention I attended the opera last night? No? Idomeneo, start of Mozart's mature period...

1037:Lovely and sunny in north London today. Lord's looks an absolute picture, as I'm sure I've heard somewhere before. I'll hand over to Ben in time for the Aussies to take strike.

1033: Bit of team news for Australia: Michael Clarke has a bit of back trouble so he misses out, with big-hitting left-hander Shaun Marsh, son of left-handed blocker Geoff, comes in.

England captain Andrew Strauss: I think there's a slight tinge of green in this wicket and it might do something in the first 10 overs. Same forumal - restrict Australia, try and excert some pressure then chase whatever they set us.

1033: The pavilion gate clanks and Mr Dirs is almost ready to take the crease. Bit of scratching around first and he'll be with you.

Aussie captain Ricky Ponting: "Andrew and I may as well just shake hands at the gate. I'm pretty sure he would have bowled again. The wicket looks particularly good."

1026: I'm told Australia have won the toss and elected to bat. Commentary starting now on 5 live Sports Extra. Still no sign of the boy Dirs and there are also problems on the Tube heading to St John's Wood so plenty of spectators will be late arriving.

1020: Morning all. England have announced an unchanged side as they aim to finish the series on a high. More train problems from east London so Benjamin Dirs will only be with you at the very last minute.