It was all about centurion Andrew Strauss yesterday but the England skipper will need to keep on going after England lost late wickets yesterday. Ed Hawkins talks us through all the action on day two. Remember to e-mail him at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk.

18.56 Aus 156-8 CLOSE
England take the day with a 2-1 session count win. They will be back tomorrow to see if they can knock over the remaining Aussies to give themselves an opportunity of enforcing, or not, a follow on.

18.24 Aus 156-8 BAD LIGHT STOPPED PLAY
I got an email earlier wondering why I was not talking more about biscuits, cake or my lunch. So to put that right, excuse me why I go and reproduce my spaghetti carbonara. There is a sickening love-in going on at the moment between Shane Warne and Russell Crowe. "How did we first meet?" "Ooooh, Rusty, I can't remember." "Was it me wedding?" " No before that!". Oh pass the vom bucke! Meanwhile, bad light has stopped play. 19.10 is the cut off point. "So can Australia fight back?," Nasser Hussain asks Russell. Do you know what, Rusty? I couldn't give a fig what you think.

WICKET 18.18 Aus 152-8
"UNLEASH HELL!" Just as Russell Crowe, he of Gladiator fame, makes a bizarre appearance in the commbox to question Australia's ruthlessness, Brad Haddin has swotted Stuart Broad to midwicket. Very much thumbs down for that shot Brad.

WICKET 18.08 Aus 148-7
Mitchell Johnson caught in the deep by Alastair Cook off Stuart Broad. Australia need 78 to avoid the follow on. I wonder if England would enforce given the history with them struggling to bowl sides out at Lord's in the third innings? Say Australia are bowled out tonight, England could afford to bat all day tomorrow and set Australia a whopping total with two days to take another 10. Nathan Hauritz is batting despite that dislocated finger.

WICKET 17.53 Aus 139-6
So what do I know? North has played on attempting a pull shot. Just an injudicious shot. It was not short enough from Anderson and Australia are now in some strife. Mitchell Johnson is on his way to the wicket.

17.46 Aus 139-5
The sun is out and Andrew Flintoff is out of the attack. This is still a good batting wicket and although England have rocketed into the ascendancy with those three wickets, Haddin and North should be capable of hanging around. Michael Clarke, for example, just played a poor shot while Hussey was cowed by Flintoff's firebrand spell. Australia are [6.20]. If they can manage another 30 or so runs from here they will come down to about [5.50].

17.37 Aus 132-5
Wickets have come in clusters in this Test. And those two put the cat among the pigeons. However, this must surely be Flintoff's last over and new pair Brad Haddin and Marcus North should be confident of scoring runs. England are [2.08] and the draw is [2.80]. Still 30-odd overs left tonight.

WICKET 17.20 Aus 111-5
Michael Clarke next to go. Caught at midwicket off Anderson. Golly. England [1.78] now.

WICKET 17.18 Aus 111-4
Hussey gone! Australia cannot survive the Flintoff ferocity. A 95mph thunderbolt has crashed into his stumps.

17.06 Aus 110-3
We are in a key period early on in this session. Andrew Flintoff is giving it everything, bowling as quickly as 94mph. If Clarke and Hussey (who has just gone to 50) survive this onslaught, then they should be capable of punching on. Flintoff has bowled three overs. He will probably manage only another three at such ferocity. When he's done, expect runs and wager accordingly.

WICKET 16.58 Aus 103-3
Simon Katich has gone. A brilliant sprawling catch by Stuart Broad at backward of square. Katich went for the pull off Onions but didn't get all of it and Broad, diving forward, clung on. Some much-needed excitement. Michael Clarke should be the next man to the crease.

16.48 Aus 95-2
Andrew Flintoff is on after tea at the start of this marathon session. England need a wicket rather sharpish and as usual, he is the man they turn to with absolute faith. That is fair enough you would think. Certainly you wouldn't chuck the ball to Stuart Broad who has taken only one wicket in 39 overs with a strike rate of 234. But did you know that Flintoff has taken only one wicket in 42 overs? A strike rate of 252. The chap with the best strike rate is, er, Paul Collingwood. A wicket every 54 balls. Come on Strauss, throw Colly the ball.

16.29 Aus 87-2 TEA
Quiz question answer: Nasser Hussain (47) had a higher first-class average at Lord's than David Gower (45) and Mike Atherton (31). So there you go. Australia take that session after trading at [4.20] at the break, shorter than England at [4.40]. That just sums up the lack of confidence in this England bowling attack. Australia are still 338 runs adrift. In fact, although I am one of the home side's harshest critics I think the market has it wrong.

16.02 Aus 63-2
These two have put on 53 runs. That is a tremendous effort. The sun is out now and with Stuart Broad and Graham Onions looking pretty average, Australia's price has come down to [4.70]. Both Katich and Hussey have played first-class cricket at HQ before. Katich has had four county sides and Hussey three. They average 47 (one game) and 17 (two) respectively. To shift them, perhaps a burst from Andrew Flintoff might be appropriate.

15.42 Aus 49-2
Just to prove what a false market move the draw price dipping for rain actually is, you should be aware that the time lost (79 minutes will be made up). That is an extra hour tonight and the remaining 19 minutes tomorrow. Let's hope they can stay out there now, at least for the sake of Katich and Hussey. It must be tremendously frustrating for them. Each time they have had to virtually start their innings again, which of course makes them vulnerable each time. Graham Onions is coming on to bowl his first Ashes over.

15.36 Aus 49-2 RAIN
Come on, folks get your answers in to our quiz question (15.07). I'll give you a helping hand, it wasn't Michael Atherton. We should be underway in a few moments.

15.28 Aus 49-2 RAIN
We should be starting again at 15.40. Good news. If you're surprised at the quick resumption, that is down to the superior Lord's drainage system.

15.07 Aus 49-2 RAIN
Boring when it rains isn't it? I suppose we should have some sort of quiz to pass the time. So for a starter for 10, can you tell me who, out of the current Sky pundits discussing team selection on the TV now (Gower, Atherton and Hussain) who had the better record as a batsman at Lord's in first-class cricket?

14.56 Aus 49-2 RAIN
It is raining steadily here. I expect that to be up at Lord's sharpish. This could be a frustrating day, folks. Oh yep, it's falling now and off they go. Draw is [1.74].

14.46 Aus 37-2
Runscoring remains difficult for Hussey and Katich, not least because they know they could be playing for tomorrow. We have more rain around. Judging by our weather radar it is difficult to see how, once the clouds burst, we will get any more play.

RAIN 14.24 Aus 31-2
We should start again in 15

RAIN 14.05 Aus 31-2
Off they go at Lord's. Draw down to [1.79]. It just shows how you can make money from betting on the weather.

14.00 Aus 30-2
WAP! WAP! That's the sound of a warning hooter by the way. Spots of rain in west London, which is where the rain will come from. Will let you know if it gets any heavier. The draw is [1.97]. It is getting quite gloomy at HQ but remember they can whack the lights on.

13.50 Aus 22-2
We are back after lunch, but for how long I'm not sure. According to the weather radar, rain is imminent. I'm about three miles west of HQ and it isn't raining here but then again I don't know which way the wind is blowing. The draw is [2.04].

13.02 Aus 22-2 LUNCH
After taking the morning session, England have a 3-1 lead overall in the Test. England looked like losing it after three wickets in three overs this morning but they have proved they can swing the ball, too. The wicket of Phil Hughes was expected but to remove Ricky Ponting was a genuine fillip. The break has come at just the right time for them, too allowing Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson a breather. Here are the prices: England [2.86], Australia [5.30] and the draw [2.12].

WICKET 12.45 Aus 10-2
Gosh, it's all happening very fast again. Ricky Ponting is out to Anderson. He has been caught at slip from a bat pad would you believe. A bit of controversy because England appealed for leg before and then the catch. Ump Rudi had to ask the third umpire whether the catch carried, reckoning he got an inside edge. Ponting was incredulous, suggesting he didn't hit it. Quite what his point was I don't know because if he didn't hit it, it was plumb leg before. He is a narky fellow. His mood better improve by lunch, too because he's got to the meet the Queen. She doesn't suffer fools. England [2.50], Australia [5.80] and the draw [2.30].

12.37 Aus 10-1
You can lay Australia at [2.06] for 375 runs or more. Now, I know what you're thinking. 'This is a flat wicket, England are hopeless on such wickets and you're suggesting laying Australia runs!' Agreed. However, historically England bowl sides out cheaply in the second innings at Lord's. It is the third or fourth innings they struggle in as the surface gets flatter. West Indies were knocked over for 152 earlier this summer, South Africa 247 the summer before, India 201 in 2007 and Sri Lanka 192 the year before. The average second-innings score in the last 10 309.

WICKET 12.18 Aus 4-1
James Anderson strikes and it is Phil Hughes who has gone for 4. Strangled down the leg side with Matt Prior holding on after what must have been a bit of glove. That's one way to get him out, I suppose. Ricky Ponting in and England will fancy their chances with the ball doing something. England are [3.00], Australia [4.40] and the draw [2.20].

12.16 Aus 4-0
Let's have a look at the Australia's top first-innings runscorer market. The first thing to say is that with the ball swinging, Simon Katich, despite a ton in Wales, and Phil Hughes (providing England don't feed his strength wide of off stump) must be considered poor value at [5.10] and [5.40] respectively. Ricky Ponting, of course, is jolly at [4.30]. We wouldn't put you off backing him after his 150 in the first Test, although some will stay away because of an average of a tick above 17 at Lord's. It is probably a statistical quirk. There is nothing in this pitch which particularly exposes Ponting and besides, he has a ton in 50-over ccricket on the ground. The real value may lie with Michael Clarke, however. He is [6.40], hit 91 at HQ in 2005 and in the last 10 second-innings there, the No 5 batsman has top-scored more times than any other position.

12.08 Aus 0-0
Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich could face a stern test here. The ball should swing for England. However, in this game England's players have repeated the individual erros made in Cardiff. James Anderson and Stuart Broad wasted the new ball there. We shouldn't be surprised if they do so again.

11.57 Eng 425
Mitchell Johnson brings England's innings to a close by dismissing James Anderson, caught in the gully. England will be buoyed by that 47-run partnership but let's not forget they have wasted a golden opportunity. They were 302-3 and have posted below their par here.

11.52 Eng 419-9
England are frustratinmg Australia. But are they unwittingly frustrating themselves? These are ace bowling conditions. The ball is bending in muggy conditions and James Anderson and Graham Onions, the two batsmen, must be sorely tempted to throw away their wicket to get into the Aussies. After all, another 10 or 20 runs now is hardly going to make a huge difference.

11.35 Eng 394-9
Peter Siddle looks as though he's just done a bit of a vom on the hallowed turf. "No, no, no!" reacted my flatmate. "We don't have that sort of behaviour at the Home of Cricket." That's honourable, but may I reveal in this blog that those words have been uttered by the same man who at a Lord's function in 2004, pinched a chess piece from one of the members' rooms. "Actually, I'm not proud of it," he said. "But it was a king." My brother did something far more mischevious, though and I'm not sure I have the guts to reveal it. Maybe later.

11.23 Eng 379-9
This is not the sort of start to a morning's blogging that I enjoy. I like to be eased into the action. A bit like a 1940s TV set, I take time to warm up. There has been far too much stuff going on for my liking, regardless of my punting affiliation towards a result. For a start, I am just not a morning person. Secondly, I had loads of great stats about Stuart Broad and average partnerships. And thirdly, I had to rewrite posts because of the plethora of wickets. I'm going to have some bacon and eggs now. If there is a wicket while I'm eating, something will be thrown at the TV, meaning the 1940s one may have to be dug out from somewhere.

WICKET 11.15 Eng 378-9
Broad gone now. Played on to Peter Siddle. A quite ridiciculous start even by standards involving England and favourable bowling conditions. Three overs, three wickets. Australia into [3.25] with the draw heading out to [2.40]. What market moves.

WICKET 11.09 Eng 370-8
The draw hits evens as Graeme Swann departs, caught at slip off Peter Siddle. Entirely predictable this folks. We had heavy overnight rain in north London and it is extremely muggy - as I found out when getting a sweat on during an early-morning stroll. Australia have a relatively new ball, too. Australia are [3.50]. By the way, that stat about Strauss was that on the four times he was unbeaten on a ton overnight, he had never added more than six.

WICKET 11.00 Eng 364-7
You know, I was just about to wow you with statistics about Andrew Strauss's record when being unbeaten on a century overnight and then he goes and leaves a straight one second ball from Ben Hilfenhaus. Here are the prices, England [4.30], Australia [4.40] and England [1.89].

10.55 Eng 364-6
Good morning sports fans. Welcome back to our in-running betting blog for the second Test at Lord's. We're about to get underway. Andrew Strauss is walking out to the middle with a fresh-faced Stuart Broad. It looks like Strauss is taking his nepohew for a day out at the park.

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