Flintoff out, Harmison in, Clarke plays, Haddin has recovered, Hauritz dropped and Prior is in then out, then in. And all that's before a ball has been bowled. We're likely to get a full five days' play so who better than Ed Hawkins to talk us through it all as England bat first. Email him at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

18.33 Aus 196-4 CLOSE
We've had 14 wickets and 298 runs today. Australia lead by 94. "Australia's day you would say," says David Lloyd, which doesn't quite cover it. Another 100 runs in this innings for the visitors should ensure they level the series. They are [1.13] with England [14.00] and the draw [18.00]. We'll be back tomorrow to see if England can stem the green and gold tide.

18.24 Aus 191-4
Continuing our theme about Yorkshire women, Harmison has produced an ugly over to unsettle Michael Clarke. He plonked him on his backside with a bouncer which struck him flush on the helmet. And at the end of the over Harmy sent down a real brute. It was back of a length but rose towards Clarke's throat, who could only get a glove in the way. It ballooned to Matt Prior behind the stumps but umpire Asad Rauf was umoved. Unlucky for the hosts.

18.06 Aus 185-4
Earlier I suggested that too many of the women folk in Yorkshire bore more than a passing resemblance to Steve Harmison. It was written in the hope of getting a rise out of some of you. Mission accomnplished. Tobias, who must have won of the most un-nothern names ever, has emailed to call me a "southern git" and reveal that his girlfriend could beat me up. You've kind of succeeded in making my point for me there, Tobias. DW has sent a picture with just the words "the case for the defence". So I give you the case for the prosecution..

17.40 Aus 168-4
Australia lead by 66 runs. If England get these remaining six wickets for 100 runs or fewer then they could be back in the game. It would take a superior batting effort second time around, though. Say they posted 400 - not an unreasonable demand with scores of 327, 345 and 365 in the last five Tests in the third innings at Headingley - then England would charge in at Australia set a tricky 220 or 230.

17.24 Aus 156-4
Graham Onions and Stuart Broad seem intent on making Matt Prior leave the ground tonight aided by a walking frame. Three of the past four deliveries have been down the leg side and poor old Prior has had to dive full-stretch, dodgy back and all, to gather. He collected two but one escaped for four byes. He's beginning to move a little gingerly. There are 20 overs left tonight.

WICKET 17.14 Aus 151-4
Hang about. Big fightback for England, who have go rid of Mike Hussey (10). In they come to [10.50], a significant market move. That's three wickets for just 19 runs. SO why the sudden spurt? because England, fianlly, have started to pitch the ball up. All three were full, all three were leg before. It was Stuart Broad again. Marcus North joins C;larke to reform the Edgbaston second-innings axis.

WICKET 17.02 Aus 140-3
Well, there's a turn up. Ponting is out. And for only 78 when he looked as though he could have scored 278. Leg before to Stuart Broad. England at [16.50]. Bit annoyed because 78 probably won't be enough for top-bat honours. Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke are the men at the crease.

WICKET 16.55 Aus 133-2
England needed that. So did we. The threat of Shane Watson (50) going past Ricky Ponting has been removed thanks to a swinger from Onions. Plumb leg before. We are on course for that five timer, sports fans.

16.45 Aus 130-1
There seems to be a certain amount of incredulity at England's performance which puzzles me. Sure they have been good in the previous two Tests but it was onle three Tests ago that they were similarly woeful in Cardiff. They are inconsistent because they are not a good side. This team lost to West Indies for goodness sake. They are ranked fifth in the world.

16.35 Aus 117-1
There has been a bit of bend for England in recent overs but Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson have been impervious to it, largely because ENgland are too often straying from the line and length they should be bowling. Ponting has 60 and Watson TV (apologies for not referring to him by his proper name earlier) 44. Indeed, Watson TV has just taken three fours off Steve Harmison's over.

16.18 Aus 86-1
Australia are as short as 1.12. England are 17.5. It is a ludicrously bad price. In the history of the game there have been 50 sides who have been bowled out for 102 or fewer. Only five of them have won.

16.01 Aus 73-1
Rather grudgingly England take to the field for more Australian medicine. James Anderson starts off after the break, although Mike Atherton has said he is "convinced" that he is not fit. I'm going to go away and work out how many sides have won from first innings after being bowled out for 102 or fewer.

TEA Aus 69-1
England in an almighty hole. They batted carelessly and they have bowled even worse. Ricky Ponting (39 not out) has been awesome. Well, not that good but we're on him for top Australia bat so we're obliged to get carried away. Back in a bit.

15.27 Aus 63-1
Much consternation in the comm box about how England are bowling. They have been too short which begs the question: what exactly were the bowlers doing when their batsmen were being sent scurrying back every 10 minutes? Not watching where Australia were pitching it, that's for sure. To take wickets on this surface bowlers must bowl between a good and full length. Otherwise they are cannon fodder becuase there is nothing wrong with the wicket. It's good to bat on. Has been since 2000 at least.

15.19 Aus 62-1
"I believe that Jimmy Anderson is at his best when he just runs up and bowls." Words of wisdom from Sirloin of Beef, there. I think that Ricky Ponting is at his best when he just goes out and bats, as opposed to going out, doing a spot of juggling, maybe reciting a sonnet, and then batting.

15.05 Aus 56-1
Extraordinary innings from Ponting. He has 31 from 28 balls. Australia are going at 8.2 an over. No-one is booing now.

15.00 Aus 50-1
Ricky Ponting has been very keen to get on the pull in Leeds. That's the shot, folks not the 'activity'. My, actually getting on the pull in that northern outpost requires as much nerve as facing Steve Harmison bowling at this pace. I'm not sure which is worse. Actually, they're probably abnout the same. Harmison and the women of Leeds look remarkably similar. If you're from Leeds and want to complain (or in fact an attractive woman from said city and want to send a risque pic to prove me wrong) my email address is hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk.

WICKET 14.40 Aus 14-1
Disgracefully, the boos ring round Headingley as Ricky Ponting comes to the crease. Make 'em pay, Ricky. Simon Katich (0) is the man to go, picked up by Steve Harmison who has got one to lift nastily and take the bat handle to Ian Bell at leg gully. Oooph, Harmison is bowling quickly here folks. England into [8.60].

14.38 Aus 7-0
As we go for an unprecedented fifth consecutive winning top runscorer wager we are thankful to Ricky Ponting, who has an incredible record at Headingley. He averages just the 114 - it is his highest mark on any ground in the world where he has played more than once. Could there be a better man to put our faith in the history of the game for a five timer? No. We don't like Simon Katich or Shane Watson because only one opener has top scored in the last 17 first innings. The in-form Michael Clarke is a potential nuisance. Ponting is [4.50] and Clarke [5.60].
Australia averages at Headingley first class/Tests
S Katich 26/n-a
R Ponting n-a/114
M Hussey 19/ n-a
M Clarke 8/n-a

14.33 Aus 4-0
So as Australia begin their innings was England's paltry first-innings total down to good bowling or bad batting? A bit of both, which is not the best of news for England's bowlers as they will be desperate to prove that it was largely down to the former. Andrew Strauss, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann were all guilty of being too loose. We'll check on the top Australia runscorer market in a mo as Shane Watson whacks the first ball for four.

WICKETS 14.22 Eng 102
So much for Anderson hanging around. A ripper from Siddle has done for him. Matt Prior must attack now ... forget that. As I type Graham Onions has gone first ball and Peter Siddle, a cult hero on this blog, has five wickets. That's what you get when you run in looking like your trousers are on fire. A disaster for England, whose 1-0 lead looks certain to be wiped out. Australia are [1.16] with England [11.00].

14.18 Eng 102-8
James Anderson has got off the mark for the 53rd time. He has still never been out for a duck in Tests, the longest sequence of all time. Yasir Hameed, of Pakistan, is next best on 45.

14.10 Eng 98-8
This is getting silly. I'm trying to eat a cheese roll and before I've finished even one mouthful I have to keep telling you all about a wicket. Harmison is the next to go, becoming Peter Siddle's third wicket. James Anderson has been welcomed to the crease with chants of "YORKSHIRE! YORKSHIRE!". Jimmy's a Lancastrian, of course. Anderson could be the perfect man for the situation because he is not the sort who is going to waft away outside off. That and him having a repertoire of about, say, two shots and he should keep Matt Prior company.

WICKET 14.00 Eng 92-7
The procession continues. Graeme Swann has gone for a duck and, really, it's unforgiveable. He's just planted his foot and tried to smash Peter Siddle through the covers as if he's Sachin Tendulkar. Michael Clarke pouched safely at second slip. Steve Harmison is the new man and he starts his innings by taking one on the helmet. He just seemed to let it hit him. There was no attempt to get out of the way. A directionless header, if you will. I guess that's what watching Newcastle United does to you.

13.58 Eng 92-7
Lovely stuff from Prior. He''s just caressed one through the covers to take the lead. He has 34. I have never been a huge fan of Prior, largely because of his consistent failures at the top of the order for England in one-day cricket. They really got under my skin. But I must admit he is beginning to look a class act in Tests. Have a look here to see how we predicted runs for him in our preview.

13.45 Eng 72-6
We have resumed after lunch. Matt Prior could decide to attack here as he carves Stuart Clark through point for four. Prior doesn't look too troubled with his back. He should have had plenty of physio during the break. He has 28, three shy of surpassing Alastair Cook who is leading the race for top England runscorer. If Prior makes it, it will be the fourth consecutive innings in this Ashes series that this blog has picked a top bat bet. 'Nuff said.

WICKET & LUNCH 13.00 Eng 72-6
We have hardly had time to catch our breath so thank goodness for lunch. They say that when the sun is out at Headingley batsmen make hay, but Australia are basking in the warmth as Stuart Broad goes. He clipped one to Simon Katich at midwicket to put England in dire straits. The Test is almost gone. Australia are [1.22] with England [8.80] and the draw [14.00]. Phew! I'm off for a lie down.

WICKET 12.47 Eng 63-5
Five down England. Alastair Cook is out in exactly the same way he was at Edgbaston in the second innings and exactly the same way as he has been countless times in a career littered with technical fauxs pas. Will he ever learn? No. Because the truth is Cook isn't tight enough to open in Test cricket. Stuart Broad, the first of the bowlers, is in now and England are in danger of getting skittled. If they are shot out for anything under 150 then the Test is surely over.

WICKET 12.25 Eng 42-4
My, we're having a busy morning. Paul Collingwood is the next to go and he hasn't even troubled the scorer. Stuart Clark claims his first wicket of the series by inducing an edge to Ricky Ponting at slip. Crisis time for England. It would have been fair enough to have lost a couple of cheap ones this morning but this is dire indeed. It brings Matt Prior to the crease many hours before England would have wanted, not just in terms of the match situation, but because of his dodgy back. He's walking as if he's done something unpleasant in his trousers. Australia [1.34], England [8.00] and the draw [7.20].

WICKET 12.09 Eng 39-3
The Bell tolls for thee. Ian Ronald (can't believe we haven't picked up on this ludicrous middle name before) Bell has been caught behind off Mitchell Johnson for eight. Australia as short as [1.58]. Good bouncer from Johnson. He got it up to shoulder height and Bell could only fend at it, perhaps a bit like a kitten does when you fling a cricket ball at it.

12.07 Eng 35-3
Managed to grab a few words with Jason Gillespie yesterday. He was adamant that Australia would win this Test. "Australia will win. I have no doubt about that," he said. "There is a lot of doom and gloom spoken about this Australia team but from what I've seen, I think they've got the bowlers for the job. Headingley is a ground for consistent bowlers and Australia have more of those than England. Look, we've got four guys who have got 10 wickets or more [13 Ben Hilfenhaus, 10 Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson] while England have only got James Anderson and then there's Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad whose wickets are costing 48 and 58 runs apiece. Our batsman are also dominating the top runscorers lists with five of the first six Aussies. There is no need to get down about Australia."

11.53 Eng 27-2
We're having our first look of Australian pacer Stuart Clark in this series. Clark, of course, finished as Australia's top wicket-taker in the previous Ashes series, pipping such luminaries as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and costing punters (one of them my good self) a pretty packet in the process. He is bowling at a gentle pace of no more than 83mph. One would think he's going to have to be a bit quicker than that. Decent amount of hoop, though.

11.42 Eng 23-2
From our table below you should have worked out that if runs are to be scored in this innings, then they should come now. You need more convincing? There have been 13 partnerships of 100 or more in Tests since 2000, three of 200 or more and one of 350 or more. Five of those were for the third wicket. The one of 350 or more was by Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan for Pakistan in 2006. I was doing much spread betting at the time and reckoned that the pair would put on a few so I bought innings runs. But I closed out after they'd put on 50, reckoning that Yousuf was beginning to look vulnerable. He got 192.

11.35 Eng 18-2
A poor start for England is hardly surprising. Historically wickets fall early at Headingley before the wicket flattens out as the sun gets into it. So those who have backed England should not start throwing crockery at the television. The first-innings average in Tests since 200 is a whopping 410. And early wickets have often fallen. Look at this fancy table I've produced below. Australia are as short as [1.68] with the draw drifting to [4.40]. England are [5.10].
Partnerships of 50 runs or more in Tests since 2000
1st wicket: 6
2nd: 5
3rd: 10
4th: 5
5th: 7
6th: 9
7th: 5
8th: 4

WICKET 11.29 Eng 16-2
Ravi Bopara (1) out now. Headingley is up to its old tricks again. Tricky batting conditions with the clouds overhead although it must be said Bopara is guilty of a lack of conviction. It was the sort of shot that Willow the Whisp would have played. He just limply offered his bat outside off, waving it around like a fairy wand, and he ballooned a shot straight to gully off Ben Hilfenhaus.

WICKET 11.13 Eng 11-1
Strauss (3) gone! Marcus North has taken a brilliant catch off Peter Siddle to send back the England captain. He took it one handed above his right shoulder. It was real fly catching stuff. Australia have the early wicket Ricky Ponting would have demanded. He believes England have a vulnerable middle order and wants to get at them as quickly as possible.

11.08 Eng 11-0
Andrew Strauss survived a plumb leg before appeal first ball of the match. It would have been a scalp for Australia given his form in the series and that he is England's best of a bad bunch in terms of averages at this ground. He is [4.10]. Alastair Cook, his opening partner, is [5.10]. Traditionally openers struggle at Headingley so we would not be keen on either. Ian Bell, who scored a ton against West Indies two years ago mso has form. We like Matt Prior, though at [5.80] on Any Other Batsman because of his record there. His back strain is a worry but he should have time to get a massage from the physio to get him in good order.
England averages at Headingley first class/Tests
A Strauss 38/38
A Cook 32/32
R Bopara 18/n-a
I Bell 36/32
P Collingwood 23/28
M Prior 80/75
A Flintoff 22/28

11.10 Eng 7-0
If you didn't know, England will regain the Ashes if they win this Test. But they must do so without their stellar performers in Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. That explains why Australia are favourites for victory in Headingley despite being 1-0 down. This is also England's second worst home venue for wins after Trent Bridge. Coming up, a look at England's top first-innings runscorer.

11.01 Eng 2-0
Something has gone right for England: they've won the toss and will bat. It is a change in fortune indeed. Their preparation for this crucial Test has been a bit like someone having to turn back from a job interview having realised they weren't wearing any trousers. England were chucked out of their hotel at 5am this morning because of a fire alarm, having to stand in the rain for 20 minutes, Andrew Flintoff was ruled out a few hours later and then Matt Prior injured his back in a footy warm-up. He plays, though. Steve Harmison replaces Fred. Australia have dropped Nathan Hauritz for Stuart Clark and Brad Haddin is back for Mr Manou. Here are the prices: England [4.20], Australia [2.58] and the draw [2.62].

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