England Come Back Fighting

England take on Australia in Adelaide, desperate to leave with a win at the end of the 5 day Test match - drawing the series at 1-1.

England captains have an appalling record with the coin toss and today was no different. Cooke lost and Australia chose to bat first.

Anderson and Broad opened the bowling, showing little to no swing and very little pace - the ball was unlikely to be flying over the wicket like in The Gabba leaving room for more chances of LBW.

First boundary came with Warner off Anderson, but next ball had a huge LBW appeal but no finger is raised and no review is used - it would have been wasted since the ball was pitches outside the line.

Broad again takes the first wicket for England and Carberry is the one with the catch as Warner goes for 29. Australia 34-1.

RAIN STOPS PLAY as it becomes just a bit too heavy. 20 minutes later they're back in play and a few boundaries are hit off Stuart Broad's bowling.

The afternoon session saw a lot of runs and few chances of a wicket until Monty Panesar got one that looked very close. It was seen on hawk-eye to be clipping the stumps but not enough to overturn the original decision from the umpire of not out.

105-1 is reached by a long 6 bouncing just after the ropes and Panesar isn't looking too dominating.

142-1 and England look no closer to securing a wicket until Shane Watson is c&b by Anderson leaving the pitch on 51. Rogers goes shortly after on 72 by Swann. Clarke comes in and on 0 has a possible nick behind but no review from England but suddenly England look a little more in control of this game.

Panesar gets Smith as he hits the top of off stump and Australia are 174-4.

The evening session saw five big appeals from England as well as three dropped catches and a run out opportunity of the Australian captain, Michael Clarke.

Monty has a c&b opportunity as Bailey hits it straight to hit but low nothing comes of it. The second opportunity comes from Clarke this time, bowled by Swann but Joe Root at mid-wicket can't keep hold of it.

Three sixes in total for George Bailey as he reaches his maiden Test half-century.

England not looking too sharp until Broad finally gets his man, Bailey falling into the trap laid out for him. Swann taking a brilliant catch in his right hand, away from his usual slip position. Unfortunately he couldn't follow it up with a second that came to him shortly after, Carberry also given a catch (a rather easy chance by today's standards) but couldn't hold onto it.

That's three dropped in this session alone.

Panesar rounding out the day's bowling leaving Australia on 273-5.


Ball on Willow.