Simon Wilde | Report: day two | Reaction | Scoreboard | Debate | Weblog

CLOSE OF PLAY England 53-3, Australia 602-9
A disastrous closing session for the England's batsmen. Having bowled with marginally more incision earlier today than they did yesterday, Andrew Flintoff's put a game that could have been saved almost certainly beyond reach by quickly losing three wickets.

"We need a couple of big partnerships," admitted Flintoff afterwards. For big, read huge: an unlikely proposition given the pace and movement that Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Stuart Clarke all found in the pitch this evening. An achievement that England's early bowling failures in an even more damaging light. As Geoffrey Dean, our man in the ground, said, "The nightmare continues".

Log on again tonight for over-by-over coverage on England's attempt to surmount the pressure. Until then, click on the page-breaks below for over-by-over coverage of today's earlier sessions.

England 53-3 (Bell 13 Pietersen 6)
Warne collects Pietersen's defensive on the bounce, then throws the ball back the wicket, forcing his friend to duck. And, the return of the flipper, skidding ominously down leg.

England 51-3 (Bell 12 Pietersen 5)
Warne is loosening up. Channel 9, presumably, are cranking up their flash wicket detector.

England 50-3 (Bell 12 Pietersen 4)
"I saw the two sides training this morning," reveals Lloyd. "England were efficient and proficient. Australia were awesome." Just two runs off Lee.

England 48-3 (Bell 9 Pietersen 4)
Pietersen whips a short ball through square leg to the boundary. Then repeats the stroke for his own amusement while waiting for the change of ends.

WICKET Collingwood c Gilchrist b Clark 5
Collingwood walks into a sharp Clark delivery, bottom-edging to the wicket-keeper. England are floundering.

England 39-2 (Bell 5 Collingwood 5)
Remember, Geoffrey will file his match report moments after the close of play. Click here a little later to be directed to it. Click here now for an analysis of the opening day.

England 39-2 (Bell 5 Collingwood 5)
Another big lbw shout from McGrath, clipping the top of Bell's pad. The 39,315 crowd mostly contribute to the appeal. "Must be," cries Athers. 'Fraid not, says Bowden.

England 38-2 (Bell 4 Collingwood 5)
Lee suffered a gash above the knee, but looks untroubled watching from the stand.

England 34-2 (Bell 4 Collingwood 1)
Useful half-volley to the boundar from Bell off Stuart Clarke, suggesting confidence.