Australia will have to set a new world record if they are to chase the 522 England have set them but their priority is more likely to be saving the Second Test, rather than winning it. Ed Hawkins talks us through all the action ... Email him at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

18.27 Aus 313-5 CLOSE
That's your lot sports fans for day four. Probably best that England will come back tomorrow refreshed and rested. Indeed, they know Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin will start from scratch, too and if you ask me, that makes a wicket more likely. Australia are still short to lay. They are [4.70] and take the final session. 2-1 to England for the day.

18.22 Aus 313-5
There are 12 overs left tonight but I doubt will get them in. As soon as the umps offer the light, Clarke and Haddin will run for cover, even if they are batting superbly at the moment against the new ball. Australia's score is the fourth highest in the fourth innings in Lord's history. The 397 by India against England in 2002 is the highest. That just shows what an enormous task they still face to win the game. I reiterate: the [4.80] is far too short.

18.11 Aus 304-5
Australia are as short as [4.90] to lay. My goodness, that could be worth taking. You have to think of it in terms of 'what would their price be if they lost a wicket to the new ball?' Double it. At least. There is only Mitchell Johnson to come and although 219 more runs may not seem a great deal given Clarke and Haddin have put on 175, it remains improbable that they could get up off the floor to chase down the world record.

18.02 Aus 291-5
England have got a new ball. Andrew Strauss has just reiterated to his side the importance of making it count, as if they didn't know already. He called them in for a little pep talk, looking stern faced and making his point by wagging his finger. I suppose he could have been asking the lads where they fancied going for dinner later but more than likely it was a gee up. Australia are as short as [7.80]. They were as big as [75.00] earlier in the day. It just show the impact of a 100+ partnership. This is the fourth 100+ partnership for a sixth wicket in the last 31 Tests. I expect England to make this new ball count before the close, which could be in about 30 minutes because of the impending gloom.

17.44 Aus 270-5
Clarke has his century, Haddin his 50. Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen have both been off the field getting treatment for their respective injuries. It is a surprise that Ricky Ponting is allowing them to have substitue fielders. Both men came into the game with their problems so that should mean no leeway. Not ruthless enough, Ricky, as I shudder at the memory of Russell Crowe's commbox appearance the other day.

17.29 Aus 248-5
Michael Clarke needs nine for his first century in England. That's in Tests, by the way. That stat has been confusing people for some time making them think he didn't get off the mark in his time with Hampshire. He actually scored three centuries. Meanwhile, David Lloyd has just voiced concerns about a band of rain in the distance. Mmmm. We might get a shower by 18.00 but according to the radar it doesn't look serious. England have eight overs until a new ball.

17.08 Aus 233-5
A 100-run partnership for Clarke and Haddin. Well played. The Open continues on BBC1 by the way. Ross 'the boss' Fisher has been sacked from the leaderboard since our last mention. I we didn't put the kybosh on him. Lee Westwood shares the lead at the moment with Tom Watson TV and Matt Goggin Box. Not sure I would like to see Goggin win. For a start he is an Aussie. Although patritotism goes out of the window for cricket, I'm firecely pro English when it comes to any other sport and get very down indeed when all is going belly up for 'our boys'. Secondly, I don't like Goggin's facial hair. He's disrespecting a fine championship with this fuzz.

16.43 Aus 215-5
Clarke and Haddin have put on 86 now. See, there had to be a time when Australia would get to grips with proceedings. Just imagine the fun we could have had if such a partnership had come earlier, say, between Ponting and Hussey. As it is, we are all just watching and waiting for England to take wickets. It would take something quite remarkable for trading opportunities to arise. I guess you could have a lay of England at [1.11] in the hope that these two keep going and that with rain set to arrive in an hour or so, you could then trade out.

16.23 Aus 202-5
Has anyone else noticed what an awful shot Hussey is playing in that picture ... there ... look up. How has the left-hander managed to get the bat into that position?

16.09 Aus 181-5
I had an unpleasant experience during the tea break. I thought I'd be decadent. I thought I deserved some pleasure. So I went for some mushroom soup and some foccacia (this is beginning to sound a bit pretentious). Nothing wrong with the soup but halfway through the fancy bread I spotted it had grown mould. It is a bit of a metaphor for Australia's innings. They were ready to treat themselves with something sublime but, to their horror, they discovered that not all was what it seemed and there was something unpleasant lurking on the surface. Cue nervous prods, much hacking and spluttering, worried glances and a very nasty after taste.

15.42 Aus 178-5
That's tea. Another session won for England as they roll on mercilessly towards a 1-0 advantage. Clarke and Haddin have batted well but England are only one wicket from the bowlers and with 49 overs left today, plus the chance of the extra half hour, it is no surprise to see that it is [2.40] that the match will finish in the last session.

15.31 Aus 168-5
Flintoff running in with gusto and a grimace. I wonder if this could be a bitter sweet victory for England? Flintoff could be bowling himself out of the series while Kevin Pietersen, according to David Lloyd, "looks as though he is close to not being able to move." If England do go 1-0 up, you would be foolhardy to rule Australia out of this series. To put it into context an England side minus Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen might look like this: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Bopara, Collingwood, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions. Not too clever is it?

15.23 Aus 162-5
50 for Michael Clarke. He has looked relatively untroubled, aside from Flintoff's most recent over. Of course we were on him for runs in the first-innings, reckoning that memories of his 91 in the 2005 contest on this contest would stand him in good stead. But of course that did come in the second dig. Drat.

15.15 Aus 147-5
Ross 'the boss' Fisher looks set to drop a couple over on BBC1 at The Open. There's not much faith in the chap on the outright market. That may have something to do with his nickname (which I made up). After all, no-one likes the boss do they? While on the subject of golf, who would win in fight of austerity between The Open and a Lord's Ashes Test? EMail me to let me know your thoughts.

WICKET 14.56 Aus 128-5
Andrew Flintoff has just asked Marcus North "what the **** is that?" with relation to a cavalier drive which flew off the outside edge just over the head of gully. Whoah! Standy by. Graeme Swann has just cleaned up Marcus North. Bowled through the gate. Australia in freefall. Only one wicket away from the bowlers now England.

14.32 Aus 120-4
Hussey's wicket would appear to be another bad slice of luck in the regard that he didn't actually hit it. Meanwhile, I've switched over briefly to the BBC's coverage of The Open only to hear one commentator discussing a golfer "soaking his balls in hot water". And with that I switched back although I did hang around long enough to see Ross Fisher birdie the second. He's English by the way. A good day for England all round so far then.

WICKET 14.29 Aus 120-4
Graeme Swann gets his first wicket of the series just as Mike Hussey was starting to look dangerous. Australia just can't seem to get going. This could be done and dusted today folks at this rate. Hussey tried to drive out of some rough and he got a feather through to Paul Collingwood at slip. England at [1.10]. Marcus North, on a pair, is in.

14.14 Aus 106-3
Indeed Portuguese Pirate, on both points. Michael Parkinson is another favourite of the television cameramen. If he is at a Test match we absolutely must be told about it. It's almost as if Parkinson is a danger to the public so cameras have to be trained on him at all times, lest he do something unpleasant like drop his trousers in the pavilion, cuff Stephen Fry or, worse, agree to do an advert for a company offering life insurance for old fogeys like himself. Oh wait, he's already done that. '20 quid a month buys you peace of mind and this free pen!'

14.04 Aus 89-3
Portuguese Pirate says: "Damn right about this business of the camera picking out so-called celebrities in the crowd that you mentioned yesterday. It would be a story if Stephen Fry wasn't in the crowd at Lord's. On another note, slightly poor show from Strauss claiming the catch. How could he be so sure when endless replays are inconclusive? He should have signalled that he wasn't sure and that the third umpire should have had a look..."

WICKET 13.51 Aus 78-3
A huge wicket for England. Ricky Ponting chops on off Stuart Broad and the favourable conditions have played a part. A bit of shape on that from Broad. England are [1.14].

13.41 Aus 77-2
I'm a go-to man. Got the weekly shop done at a well-know supermarket in the lunch break. I tell you, it's blustery out there, a bit overcast, too. Good bowling conditions these. Let's see if England can cause Messrs Hussey and Ponting some problems. A key period.

13.00 Aus 76-2 LUNCH
There is no doubt that was England's session. They are as short as [1.29]. Still, there will be hard yars to come on this surface, particularly when the sun is out. They know that, though I'm sure. Indeed, that price may even be worth a lay to back. It would be a surprise if Australia are unable to put at least one 100+ partnership together during this innings.

12.43 Aus 59-2
Ponting has form in these situations. Hands up those who remember his 156 at Old Trafford in 2005? That was a cracker of an innings which ended in dramatic fashion when he gloved Steve Harmison behind to Geraint Jones. It was reported that Mark Nicholas, on commentary for Channel 4, at worst nearly had a coronary. At best a strand of his carefully coiffured bouffant was found to be out of place. "RICKY! ... PONTING! ... IS! ... OUT!" Oh how we miss Sparky Marky. I once stared a Mark Nicholas Fan Club. Only three people joined.

12.30 Aus 44-2
That is the end of Flintoff's spell. And forgive me for my doomungering but could it be the end of his career, too? He is really struggling with his knee, grimacing and hobbling in that final over. We have a decent break until now and the next Test but can England really afford to play a guy when his so patently unfit? Of course not. Too get even darker, there are rumours that Kevin Pietersen is a doubt for the third Test in Birmingham. England without KP and Fred. Hmmmm.

12.13 Aus 37-2
Australia have been unfortunate this morning. Simon Katich was out off a no ball while the catch to dismiss Phillip Hughes did not appear to carry. They have a stellar pair at the crease now, though. Ricky Ponting has been joined by Mike Hussey and they could well start showing that this remains a good wicket. The key is cloud cover. It has swung consistently under grey skies. The sun could be coming out now. Maybe time for Australia to bask, particularly with Andrew Flintoff set to finish his spell.

WICKET 12.00 Aus 34-2
Phillip Hughes has fallen to Andrew Flintoff. Caught at slip. Little bit controversial because Ricky Ponting told Hughes to stay put with the ball appearing not to carr to Andrew Strauss. Anyway, Ump Rudi moved him on. That aside, what a fantastic start for England.

11.51 Aus 28-1
Time for a look at the weather radar. It suggests we should get play until 17.30. Heavy showers were forecast for later in the day but that looks as though it might have been exaggerated.

11.41 Aus 22-1
Ponting should score runs today. He has a poor record at HQ, averaging only 17 before this Test, but there is nothing in that. There is no reason why he should not be able to score here as opposed to any other ground in the world. Indeed, he has a century in a one-day international. They key for him will be to survive the Flintoff onslaught. He is [1.91] for a 50 and [4.00] for a ton.

WICKET 11.29 Aus 17-1
Simon Katich has fallen, caught in the gully off Andrew Flintoff. A rather predictable failure that. Katich has scored well in both innings in the series so far so he was due a failure. A key early wicket for England because it gives them the chance to bowl at Ricky Ponting when the ball is new and has potential for swing. England are [1.39].

11.23 Aus 8-0
England are targetting Phil Hughes in the manner which we predicted they would at the start of this series. Andrew Flintoff is getting it into his ribs because of his desperation to get legside of the ball. England have a short leg and leg gully. To be honest, it doesn't look as though he'll last long but just remember how poor Kevin Pietersen looked at the start of his innings yesterday. They can battle these batsmen.

11.15 Aus 0-0
We are underway so we had better have a look at the prices. England are [1.45], Australia a faintly ridiculous [10.00] and the draw [4.70]. We have a bit of weather around today, full details to follow.

11.05
So Australia have been set 522 to win as we have a 15-minute delay here because of earlier rain. They can't possibly win. History dictates that with the world record chase at 418 dwarfed by this target. But they could draw. Remember when Sri Lanka batted for 199 overs in the third innings on this ground in 2006? I do. I was there and it was deathly dull. All there was to do was eat the free cake.

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