Bat and ball / Ed Hawkins / 21 August 2009 /

Having won the toss and built a solid platform yesterday, the likes of Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff were all guilty of getting out to poor shots. A strong bowling display is now essential. Ed Hawkins will be on hand to see if that happens. Email him at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

19.21 Eng 58-3, lead by 230 CLOSE
Would you believe that I, your esteemed host, will miss the Saturday and Sunday of this Test to attend a wedding. Fret not, a more than capable chap will fill my shoes. Think of me, though missing all the fun. I must say that the couple who are getting hitched are a lovely pair. Very kindly they let me stay with them while I was in Australia for the previous Ashes series. Not once did they moan about me wandering around in my pants or making a mess in the bathroom. It's about time they tied the knot, though. They've been going out for ages. I can just see the best man's speech now. "Well, ladies and gents this magical day has finally arrived. We've been waiting many minutes, hours and days for it to come, hoping that our dreams will be realised. Some of us thought we would never live to see it. There have been dark days. Miserable days. And days when both parties thought little of each other. Even as recently as a week ago. No matter. England have regained the Ashes." Boom! Boom! We'll leave it there, folks.

19.14 Eng 57-3
I'm going to have the final say on this as England extend their lead to 229 and tighten their grip on the urn. Great batsman or not, Ponting will go down in history as the man who twice gave up the Ashes for Australia. But he didn't just lose them. He handed them back on a plate. The terrible rick he made at Edgbaston in 2005 when he decided to bowl first was written off as an aberration. He had failed to check the history books. Fair enough. But to repeat a similar error four years later is unforgiveable. No spinner at The Oval? What next, Ricky? Agree to a seven-match one-day tour of Afghanistan? Only two touring sides have failed to pick a specialist spinner on this ground since 1983 and both were thumped. Had Australia had Nathan Hauritz in the first-innings they may well still be in this game. That they are not and England are as short as [1.30] for glory is down to a lack of common sense on the part of the skipper. He has been booed at every ground in this series by England fans. He should be feted as a hero.

19.00 Ricky Ponting: Australia's worst captain?
Australia's fightback has merely delayed our debate. We continue ... his overall captaincy record is virtually without peer - 38 wins from 58 Tests going into this match for a winning percent of almost 66. Only Steve Waugh's 41 wins from 57 Tests in charge, a winning percentage of 71, betters Ponting's in the game's history for any skipper who has led their side in more than 10 Tests.

18.46 Eng 39-3
Well then, England are making heavy weather of this. Paul Collingwood is next out to leave England wobbling a bit. But all it does is harden belief that this wicket is tough to bat on. England are [1.45] now which is bigger than it should be. It was the Katich-Johnson combo which did the damage. Jonathan Trott next in. He could go leg before cheaply because of his technical tangles. Australia will surely be rueful behidn their smiles. 'If only we got another 100!'.

WICKET 18.38 Eng 32-2
Ian Bell (4), another who will escape scrutiny, is the next to go. Simon Katich has taken a quite super catch at short leg from Mitchell Johnson to remove him. I suppose we should take a look at the prices, if only to record them for prosperity. England are [1.36], Australia a quite ridiculous [4.90] and the draw [16.00]. I suppose if I reckon Australia's price is crazy I should recommend we all fill our boots on England. Go on then. They lead by 208 which is probably enough already.

WICKET 18.22 Eng 27-1
While we debate Ricky Ponting's woes, Alastair Cook has failed again. He made nine before falling to the part-time spin of Marcus North. Cook should be happier than most about England's imminent Ashes win. Had England failed to regain, his form would have come sharply into focus. He averaged only 24 in the series.

18.10 Ricky Ponting: Australia's worst captain?
"Questions will be asked like 'is Ponting the best man to captain Australia' They've lost to South Africa and India and while while there's a long way to go in this game, they are struggling." That is Shane Warne's view.

17.46 Ricky Ponting: Australia's worst captain?
A few emails flying in then. Gobbo reckons Ponting is a decent captain who is going to be unfairly pilloried. "England are just a bit better. Done nothing wrong from what I can see." The phrase 'should've gone to Specsavers comes to mind, Gobbo. Jay-T is somewhat harsher. "String him up and bring back Warney!" I guess Jay-T is Australian.

17.32 Eng 2-0
England have had the heavy roller on during the innings break. One would reckon that batting will be easier while the effect of the roller remains. Also, not every batsman may get a bat because of the possibility of a declaration. Betfair have a market to score a 50 in the second innings and Andrew Strauss could be a wager at [2.30] given how good he looked in the first innings. Next, The Ricky Ponting Debate, we continue...

17.19 Aus 160
Andrew Flintoff finishes off Australia by picking up the wicket of Ben Hilfenhaus. They are 172 runs behind. To reteain the urn, the Aussies will have to bowl England out for under 100 to have a sniff of victory. England can afford to bat with carefree abandon, which could be the way to go on this pitch. If they set Australia anything more than 300 they are home and hosed. I wonder what the Australia dressing room is like at the moment? Utter misery I would have thought.

17.14 Ricky Ponting: Australia's worst captain?
Ponting is Australia's highest ever runscorer - the third highest runscorer from any nation in Test history - and has a better batting average than every Australian batsman except Bradman. I know this has little to do with decision making, but when you are led by a guy so brilliant with the blade, it has to count for something.

WICKET 17.00 Aus 143-9
Stuart Clark out now. Swann has him. he wasn't actually out, the ump reckoning it was a bat-pad catch to Cook. In fact, Stuey was no way near it. A bit like Australia with relation to a chance of winning this game. England [1.31].

16.58 Aus 139-8
We could debate this like a rugged porn star, long and hard: is Ricky Ponting Australia's worst captain? It is slightly harsh on the lad considering he is one of the finest batsmen the world has seen but in punting there is no room for sentiment. Email me your views at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

TEA 16.31 Aus 133-8
At the start of this session Australia were coasting towards Ashes safety. At the end of it the urn is as good as lost. And it's all down to Stuart Broad. In Andrew Flintoff's last Test as one of the world's best allrounders, it looks as though England have unearthed someone just as good. His five wickets have broken Australia hearts. And, whisper it, the Notts lad already has as many five-fors (3) as Fred managed in 79 Tests.

WICKET 16.25 Aus 131-8
Mitchell Johnson joins the procession, caught behind off Graeme Swann. This Test could be all over by the final session tomorrow. And there is some value to be had on the Test Match End market. It is [8.00] that match ends tomorrow and [6.00] that it's all over in the first session on day four.

16.23 Aus 129-7
Ponting is set to become just the second captain of Australia to be in charge of two Ashes series defeats in England. The only other is Australia's first touring captain, Billy Murdoch, well over a century ago.

16.15 Aus 121-7
I guess Ricky Ponting has to go down as one of the worst Australia captains in history no? After all, Australia define cricketing brilliance by what their giuys do against the old enemy. How many Australia captains have twice lost the Ashes? I'm going to try to find out.

WICKET 16.04 Aus 111-7
Five wickets for Stuart Broad as he cleans up Brad Haddin (1). Incredible stuff. Australia were 73-0! In a crazy second session they've just imploded. Can someone get Justin Langer on the phone? I want to ask him about Australia's mental toughness. This is pretty pathetic stuff even if Broad is bowling superbly and the pitch is tricky.

WICKET 16.00 Aus 109-6
An England victory is surely inevitable. Simon Katich, the rock Australia were hoping to build some sort of foundation around, has foundered. It was Swann who got him, snaffled by Cook close in. Mitchell Johnson is in and there is nothing else after him. I guess throughout the rest of the day we'll try to understand exactly how Australia have managed to toss the urn back into the laps of England, who are now [1.50].

15.52 Aus 108-5
Australia had one hand on the urn before this Test. Half way through day two and England have one hand plus a pinky. Swann is making the ball to spit and turn out of the rough which makes it impossible to see how Australia are going to get close to England's first-innings score, let alone chase down a score in the last innings.

WICKET 15.48 Aus 108-5
Marcus North leg before to Swann for 8. England odds on at [1.81]

15.40 Aus 108-4
Poor old Marcus North is putting out fires all over the place. At Cardiff he came together with Michael Clarke to get Australia out of a sticky situation and at Edgbaston he saved them from defeat. Now he must do it all over again. Do email to let me know exactly what is stopping England regaining the urn, won't you? I can see only one result here. And I've been saying that all day thanks very much before you people start reckoning I'm after-timing.

15.28 Aus 99-4
England are now jollies at [2.08] with Australia [2.44]. Marcus Noth and Simon Katich need a monster stand here to get them back into the series. Broad has taken 4-8 in 21 balls for those of you love trivia.

15.25 Aus 94-4
Stuart Broad is a surprise demolition man right? Wrong. Look at these figues jotted down in my jotter before play began.
Bowling records at The Oval wickets/strike rate
Harmison 22/47
Anderson 18/49
Broad 5/36
Flintoff 11/63

WICKET 15.20 Aus 93-4
Michael Clarke (3) gone! Guess who? Broad once more to take his figures to 4-15. Australia are losing the Ashes.

15.14 Aus 89-3
Mike Hussey's nickname in this series is Mr Cricket. They should change that to Mr Wicket. Rubbish he's been. Averaging 22 with only 155 runs to his name, he has time and time again given England openings. Australia are in a terrible hole. They trail by a massive 243 and cannot afford not to reach parity with England on first-innings. Remember, they have to bat last on this wearing wicket and anything more than 200 to chase in fourth dig surely sees their Ashes hopes fried?

WICKET 15.10 Aus 89-3
Collapso. Stuart Broad strikes again. Mike Hussey has gone now. Another leg before and England are winning this Test, even if the odds suggest otherwise. [2.30] England and [2.14] Australia.

15.06 Aus 85-2
For about the last 20 minutes I've been trying to squeeze out a stat but a combination of technical problems and wickets have prevented me. So, third time lucky. I've been crunching some numbers to try to get a hold of where this game is going. In Tests since 2000, the second-innings average score is 391. Australia would have taken that even before Ponting's demise and you could have laid 400 runs or more at [1.95].

WICKET 15.03 Aus 85-2
Ricky Ponting fails. An inside edge onto the stumps off Stuart Broad. Similar to his dismissal at Lord's, although he was forced onto the back foot this time. A massive boost for England as they bid to regain the urn. England into [3.05] with Australia out to [1.85]. Mike Hussey is in. He is vulnerable having had a pretty miserable series so far.

14.52 Aus 80-1
I think we've had a few technical problems, folks. While we've been away play has obviously restarted and England have started to make inroads. Shane Watson is the man who has gone, falling leg before to Stuart Broad for 34. Ricky Ponting has come in and has been like jelly on a washing maching: all over the place.

14.08 Aus 61-0 RAIN
We should have an inspection in 12 minutes. The Oval is bathed in the same sunshine as I am in west London. Perhaps take a trot over to Geoffrey Riddle's York blog before returning to the warm bosom of the cricket blog?

13.44 Aus 61-0 RAIN
Well, it's coming down at The Oval. The wet stuff is coming from the west, though and given that's where I am we shouldn't be off for too long. Bright sunshine here. Have a look at the weather radar to track today's rain. We could a bit more around 17.00. The draw has come into [4.20].

LUNCH 13.00 Aus 61-0
Rain has forced the players off for an early lunch and Australia will be singing in it. Their session without a doubt. Just a note on Andrew Strauss' captaincy. In Swann's interrupted over, which would have been the last before the break, he was decidely cautious. One slip, a silly midoff and short leg. Not attacking enough on this wicket, let alone for a final pop before sandwiches. Australia [1.81] and England [4.40]

12.52 Aus 48-0
Sharp spit and bounce for Swann. Ideally he would like to crowd the batsman, suffocate him almost with fielders. They are beginning to encroach with Strauss bringing two men in close on the offside for Simon Katich.

12.36 Aus 38-0
The good news for England fans is that Graeme Swann averages 24.5 in the fourth innings as opposed to a career mark of 32.5. The bad news is that there is evidence he does not win England games in the last dig. He was under pressure to bowl England to victory in Chennai against India last year and in St John's against West Indies at the start of this year. He failed on both occasions. No doubt there has been an expectancy on him throughout this series, too. But he has only six wickets at 68.

12.26 Aus 31-0
Our first look at Graeme Swann. There is plenty of pressure on England's spinner because he is expected to take wickets. "If as a spinner you don't get a five-for on this wicket, something's wrong," said Shane Warne yesterday. Marcus North did not take a wicket in the England innings but then again, he is only a part-timer.

12.14 Aus 26-0
England are currently [3.50]. The eagle-eyed among you will spot that is shorter than when their innings ended. It is most unusual for a bowling side to shorten when the opposition have made their way to 26-0. The reason for the reduction (they were [3.35] a couple of overs ago) is that punters in their droves are beginning to lose faith in the surface. The Australia batsmen are probably the same. They fear that any moment they could get a 'ball with their name on' so to speak; one that keeps low, leaps off a length or turns square. It may never happen. But the demons are in their minds. At the risk of sounding like I am repeating myself, England remain the call.

12.02 Aus 13-0
Watson TV is really struggling. He has survived three huge leg befores (two from Flintoff and one from Anderson). The puffs of dust which he is seeing when the ball pitches has made him tentative. It is a key point for this Australia innings. Play the ball, not the pitch. A wicket looks imminent.

11.56 Aus 5-0
Australia first-class/Test batting averages at The Oval
Watson 88/n-a
Katich 26/n-a
Ponting n-a/39

11.45 Aus 4-0
The formula for a winning top runscorer bet is when the three planets come into line of: ground form, recent form and form against the opposition. Shane Watson TV has all three. He scored a brilliant 132 at this venue in 2005 in a Friends Provident Trophy match for Hampshire against Surrey and has three 50s in four innings in this series. He is [7.00] for top Australia bat.

11.33 Aus 0-0
Shane Watson and Simon Katich (or Watson TV and K'tiche as we we have named them) are on their way to the crease. Australia need a lead. England will be happy with parity. Those two beliefs are based on the assumption that the pitch will turn square in the last innings. All the evidence so far suggests it will. Australia are [1.75] for 375 or more on an immature market. James Anderson's first ball has just disturbed the surface. England are [3.60]. That is value friends.

WICKET 11.23 Eng 332
Stuart Broad and Steve Harmison have thrown the bat and scored vital runs. I would reckon that this is now a good first-innings score. Stuart Broad (37) is the last man to go, giving Ben Hilfenhaus his 21st wicket of the series. Australia prepare to bat. If they prove England have been ill-disciplined then they will almost certaily retain the urn.

WICKET 11.08 Eng 308-9
The first wicket of the day. And something of a first. James Anderson has just recorded his first duck in Test cricket, bringing an end to one of the longest runs in history without one. Statisticians, who have worked themselves into a frenzy every time Anderson has got off the mark in his previous 54 innings, are mourning the death of an old friend. He was leg before to Ben Hilfenhaus.

11.01 Eng 307-8
So these are the prices then. England are [3.25] and Australia [1.95]. Despite my fondness for an Australia win, I have to say that England are the value. Another 20 runs could well be enough as far as this pitch is concerned. It is a bit like my grandma's apple crumble. It's not going to hold together under pressure. Australia will have to bat last on it and could be vulnerable indeed chasing anything above 150. As soon as Australia finish off England here, we'll look at the innings runs market and the top runscorer prices.

10.52 Eng 307-8
Good morning sports fans. We've got a big old day of Ashes cricket ahead of us. Perhaps the day that will decide the series. Pivotal. It seems we've been saying that constantly throughout the seven weeks of action but I really, really mean it this time. Australia must wrap up England's innings sharpish and then make the hosts pay for their profligacy with the willow. England, obviously, need to do the opposite.

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