Main man: Swann celebrates the wicket of Aussie captain Ricky Ponting
Session one: England 620/5 declared. Australia 70/0.
England decide to carry on batting to try and pile on some quick runs. They add 69 in just nine overs for the loss of only Kevin Pietersen who is dismissed for his highest Test score of 227 when he edges Xavier Doherty to Simon Katich at first slip. It leaves Australia trailing by 75 runs but openers Shane Watson and Katich remain unscathed going into the loch break.
Verdict: Draw.
Session two: Australia 160/3.
Graeme Swann has a big role to play in England’s bid for victory and he gets it underway with the wicket of Katich, who edges a sharply-turning delivery to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Ricky Ponting then lasts just 19 balls before Swann strikes again when the Australia captain is dismissed by a brilliant Paul Collingwood catch at first slip. Steve Finn then gets among the wickets when Watson is snared by Andrew Strauss.
Verdict: England.
Session three: Australia 238/4.
The Australians hold out for 27 minutes without losing a wicket, despite some brilliant bowling from James Anderson, before the umpires take the players off for bad light as light drizzle falls. England’s players are not happy and the Aussie fans on the Hill do a rain dance. But the rain stops and 58 minutes later they’re back on. Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey repel everything England throw at them until Clarke falls final ball to the off-spin of one Kevin Pietersen following a successful appeal by England.
Verdict: Draw.
Test in a Tweet: England put on quick runs, put Australia in and make some significant breakthroughs – particularly with the last ball of the day .’
Who we’ll friend on Facebook: Graeme Swann.
We all love Swanny don’t we? What with his cheeky chappy persona, amusing tweets and his love of cats. Well, he’s a brilliant bowler too – the world’s best spinner in fact. And he proved it as he grabbed the first two wickets England need for victory. That one of those was Ricky Ponting made the breakthrough even more special.
And who we’ll unfriend: Australian broadcasters.
Both on radio and TV these guys were obsessed with one thing – the weather. They banged on about it more than an old lady at a bus stop. ‘Yes, we’ve got rain 35ks away and it’s going to hit soon,’ said one. ‘The rain is coming and Australia need to hold out,’ begged another. It’s all a bit of a turnaround when the once mighty Australians are forced to ask God – that’s the bloke in the sky, not Robbie Fowler – for a favour.
Flag of the day: Banner hanging over the new West Stand reading: ‘The Sir Alastair Cook Stand.’
Lunch newsflash: Media were being offered wine at lunch by Wolf Blass and one over-insistent server had to be told twice by BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew that he wouldn’t partake. ‘I’ve got to broadcast this afternoon, it could be a disaster,’ said Aggers.
Bad question of the week: ‘Are you an outcast?’ one Aussie journo asked Kevin Pietersen after his double ton. ‘I don’t know am I?’ he replied. At the end of the press conference, adjacent to the dressing-rooms, KP is cheered back in by his team-mates.
Download of the day: I can’t stand the rain by Missy Elliott.