This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6225371.stm

The article has changed 45 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Live - Australia v England Live - Australia v England
(10 minutes later)
Australia took three wickets with the second new ball as England went from an overnight 234-4 to a shocking 257-7 on day two of the final Ashes Test.Australia took three wickets with the second new ball as England went from an overnight 234-4 to a shocking 257-7 on day two of the final Ashes Test.
Adam Gilchrist took an outside edge off Glenn McGrath to oust Paul Collingwood for 27 before grabbing another catch off Brett Lee to remove Chris Read (2).Adam Gilchrist took an outside edge off Glenn McGrath to oust Paul Collingwood for 27 before grabbing another catch off Brett Lee to remove Chris Read (2).
Sajid Mahmood, beaten for pace, was then out for a golden duck to Lee.Sajid Mahmood, beaten for pace, was then out for a golden duck to Lee.
In the mean time, captain Andrew Flintoff was playing brightly to be 61 not out but had few partners left.In the mean time, captain Andrew Flintoff was playing brightly to be 61 not out but had few partners left.
THE DAY'S ACTION (all times local to Sydney - GMT+11)THE DAY'S ACTION (all times local to Sydney - GMT+11)
By Tom FordyceBy Tom Fordyce
1117: Eng 262-7 Lee comes battering in on his hat-trick ball - but flings it way wide of off-stump. Freddie goes to 62 with a nibble to leg, which leaves Harmison free to play and miss at the remaining deliveries. From Neil Lavery in Burnley, TMS inbox: "theaudience - the very epitome of indie-schmindie, jingly-jangly, Britpop-by-numbers who rose without trace and sank just as quickly. A less interesting and talented version of Sleeper." 1124: Eng 271-7 Freddie-Wan Kenobi - you're my only hope... Brilliant stuff from Flintoff, who cracks the rampant Lee through cover for four and then smashes the next back past the stumps for another. He moves to 71. Just stay there with him, eh Harmie?
NYE Disaster Story Continuation:11.15pm: Further mussels emerge in stomach-soup form at Lillee pace, accompanied this time by whisked-up bread, salad, salmon and pre-meal pretzel snacks.12am: 2007 arrives to the sound of everything that has ever been in my stomach catapulting onto porcelain.1am: Unidentified chunks the size of Chris Read arc from stomach to bowl - many via the nose.
1117: Eng 262-7 Lee comes battering in on his hat-trick ball - but flings it way wide of off-stump. Freddie goes to 62 with a nibble to leg, which leaves Harmison free to play and miss at the remaining deliveries.
From Neil Lavery in Burnley, TMS inbox: "theaudience - the very epitome of indie-schmindie, jingly-jangly, Britpop-by-numbers who rose without trace and sank just as quickly. A less interesting and talented version of Sleeper."
1112: Eng 259-7 McGrath can barely stop the saliva dribbling down his chin as Steve Harmison comes to the crease. Harmie survives - for the time being.1112: Eng 259-7 McGrath can barely stop the saliva dribbling down his chin as Steve Harmison comes to the crease. Harmie survives - for the time being.
From Paul Stratton, TMS inbox: "theaudience: wonderful. England batsman: woeful."From Paul Stratton, TMS inbox: "theaudience: wonderful. England batsman: woeful."
1104: WICKET Mahmood ct Hayden b Lee 0, England 257-7 I did warn you... Saj strolls in, takes guard, prods cluelessly at Lee's bouncer and gives the easiest catch you've ever seen to Matt Hayden at gully. Freddie's in danger of being left all alone here. Heavier sigh.1104: WICKET Mahmood ct Hayden b Lee 0, England 257-7 I did warn you... Saj strolls in, takes guard, prods cluelessly at Lee's bouncer and gives the easiest catch you've ever seen to Matt Hayden at gully. Freddie's in danger of being left all alone here. Heavier sigh.
1102: WICKET Read ct Gilchrist b Lee 2, England 257-6 Sigh. New year, same old England. Read is unable to handle Lee's pace and movement and Gilchrist pouches an easy one behind the stumps.1102: WICKET Read ct Gilchrist b Lee 2, England 257-6 Sigh. New year, same old England. Read is unable to handle Lee's pace and movement and Gilchrist pouches an easy one behind the stumps.
1058: Eng 251-5 Chris Read looks smaller every time you see him. Could he be suffering from the dreaded Shrinks, as experienced by Mr Twit - husband of Mrs Twit? McGrath ties him up - Read, that is, not Twit. Insert your own "twits batting for England" gag here.1058: Eng 251-5 Chris Read looks smaller every time you see him. Could he be suffering from the dreaded Shrinks, as experienced by Mr Twit - husband of Mrs Twit? McGrath ties him up - Read, that is, not Twit. Insert your own "twits batting for England" gag here.
From Chris Harbron in Middlesbrough, TMS inbox: "I am shocked (and appalled!!) to read Tom Fordyce describing theaudience (no capital letter, but I'll let him off) as "woeful". Admittedly it's reassuring to know that somebody else has at least heard of them, but "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" is one of my favourite songs, and the name of my Fantasy Football team to boot! A retraction would be much appreciated!"From Chris Harbron in Middlesbrough, TMS inbox: "I am shocked (and appalled!!) to read Tom Fordyce describing theaudience (no capital letter, but I'll let him off) as "woeful". Admittedly it's reassuring to know that somebody else has at least heard of them, but "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" is one of my favourite songs, and the name of my Fantasy Football team to boot! A retraction would be much appreciated!"
theaudience - woeful or wonderful? I'm happy to put it to a public vote...theaudience - woeful or wonderful? I'm happy to put it to a public vote...
Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.ukEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk
Text the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on 84040 (from the UK only)Text the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on 84040 (from the UK only)
1048: WICKET - Collingwood ct Gilchrist b McGrath 27 - England 245-5 Just after Freddie goes to his 50 with a cover drive, McGrath strikes - getting extra bounce just short of a length and taking the edge of Colly's bat. Ah well - that didn't take long, did it?1048: WICKET - Collingwood ct Gilchrist b McGrath 27 - England 245-5 Just after Freddie goes to his 50 with a cover drive, McGrath strikes - getting extra bounce just short of a length and taking the edge of Colly's bat. Ah well - that didn't take long, did it?
1044: Eng 242-4 Colly cuts loose - relatively so. After playing and missing at Lee twice, he flicks him down to deep square leg for two.1044: Eng 242-4 Colly cuts loose - relatively so. After playing and missing at Lee twice, he flicks him down to deep square leg for two.
To continue the NYE chat, the mussels had been down approximately one hour 15 mins when the first twinges were felt in the midwicket area. The timing then went a bit like this:10.29pm: batsman signals for assistance10.30pm: first mussels re-emerge at pace from the pavillion endTo continue the NYE chat, the mussels had been down approximately one hour 15 mins when the first twinges were felt in the midwicket area. The timing then went a bit like this:10.29pm: batsman signals for assistance10.30pm: first mussels re-emerge at pace from the pavillion end
1040: Eng 240-4 Lord alive - McGrath beats Fred all ends up with an absolute snorter - through the gate and so close to the top of middle that the bails probably kissed the stumps a goodbye. England are finding this mighty tough at the moment.1040: Eng 240-4 Lord alive - McGrath beats Fred all ends up with an absolute snorter - through the gate and so close to the top of middle that the bails probably kissed the stumps a goodbye. England are finding this mighty tough at the moment.
1034: Eng 240-4 Lee fancies this - he sticks to a just-outside-off line, and Colly's finding it tough. He jabs down on an inswinger and pulls his bat out of the way of another outswinger with a swordsman's flourish.1034: Eng 240-4 Lee fancies this - he sticks to a just-outside-off line, and Colly's finding it tough. He jabs down on an inswinger and pulls his bat out of the way of another outswinger with a swordsman's flourish.
1028: Eng 238-4 McGrath trundles in to Flintoff and is as on the money as Elizabeth II. Freddie squirts a four through gully off a thickish edge.1028: Eng 238-4 McGrath trundles in to Flintoff and is as on the money as Elizabeth II. Freddie squirts a four through gully off a thickish edge.
To start the New Year's Eve tale, I'd decided to play it safe ahead of these five night-shifts by having a quiet meal in with my big sister and her family. Not rock and roll, but that's how dedicated we are the BBC - nothing gets in the way of our work. Ever. Just ask Lisa I'Anson, Chris Evans etc. All was well until I tucked into a large plate of mussels - for the first time in my life...To start the New Year's Eve tale, I'd decided to play it safe ahead of these five night-shifts by having a quiet meal in with my big sister and her family. Not rock and roll, but that's how dedicated we are the BBC - nothing gets in the way of our work. Ever. Just ask Lisa I'Anson, Chris Evans etc. All was well until I tucked into a large plate of mussels - for the first time in my life...
1022: Eng 234-4 Whoosh - great opening over from Lee, and Colly didn't like it one little bit. The first four balls swing away at speed before Colly edges the fourth low to Justin Langer's left at wide third slip - but the soon-to-be-retired leftie spills the chance. JL - you've just not dropped the Ashes.1022: Eng 234-4 Whoosh - great opening over from Lee, and Colly didn't like it one little bit. The first four balls swing away at speed before Colly edges the fourth low to Justin Langer's left at wide third slip - but the soon-to-be-retired leftie spills the chance. JL - you've just not dropped the Ashes.
1018: Here we go - Flintoff and Collingwood stride to the middle, windmilling their arms in determined fashion. Looks like Brett Lee to open the attack - with the new ball. There's a few clouds overhead, a touch of wind and a crowd that's growing all the time.1018: Here we go - Flintoff and Collingwood stride to the middle, windmilling their arms in determined fashion. Looks like Brett Lee to open the attack - with the new ball. There's a few clouds overhead, a touch of wind and a crowd that's growing all the time.
1012: Although having said that, Theaudience did produce Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about moon-faced disco dollies with stuttering solo careers.1012: Although having said that, Theaudience did produce Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about moon-faced disco dollies with stuttering solo careers.
1005: I could be selling Freddie and Colly short there. But you know what I mean. To quote woeful post-Britpop band Theaudience (their grammar, not mine), "a pessimist is never disappointed."1005: I could be selling Freddie and Colly short there. But you know what I mean. To quote woeful post-Britpop band Theaudience (their grammar, not mine), "a pessimist is never disappointed."
1000: Listen - I'll fill you in on The Worst New Year's Eve In History in a moment. You'll like it - it's a good tale. In the meantime, welcome once again to an evening of foolish optimism. England played well yesterday, which has probably duped us all once again into believing - against all possible evidence from the last miserable two months - that they will put the Aussies to the sword today.1000: Listen - I'll fill you in on The Worst New Year's Eve In History in a moment. You'll like it - it's a good tale. In the meantime, welcome once again to an evening of foolish optimism. England played well yesterday, which has probably duped us all once again into believing - against all possible evidence from the last miserable two months - that they will put the Aussies to the sword today.
Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.ukEmail the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk