Oscar Wilde could resist everything except temptation, but Andrew Strauss has stronger powers of self-denial. How the England captain wanted to call upon his best bowler as Michael Clarke and Marcus North were dragging the initiative back Australia’s way. How he wanted to do what Michael Vaughan had done four years ago and throw the ball to the man most likely to take the wicket.

But Strauss can see the bigger picture. He can hardly miss it. The canvas is the size of one of Mark Rothko’s Seagram Murals: bowl, bowl and bowl Andrew Flintoff, and the chances are that he won’t be bowling beyond this Test match. And however desperate things seem, they will be worse still if Flintoff is back on the treatment table at Old Trafford next week while the series continues at Lord’s.

Strauss is using Flintoff wisely and as well as he can. On Thursday his first spell lasted six overs. Even within the first of them he caused Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich more problems than James Anderson and Stuart Broad had managed up to that point. A Flintoff with four fewer ankle operations and none of his recent knee trouble would never have taken his sweater. His captain would not have allowed it.

Yesterday, Strauss permitted a seven-over stretch with the second new ball. Flintoff hit Katich and Mike Hussey on the helmet, and Ricky Ponting in the ribs. Not the kind of bowler that new batsmen — Clarke and North — would have fancied. They were spared as Strauss reached for the shepherd’s crook.

And that was it until 20 minutes before tea, when the captain finally scratched his itch. Australia were almost in front and Flintoff, the bowler they least enjoy facing, had delivered only 22 out of 125 overs up to that point. But at least he was still upright.

Session-by-session

First session

Australia 249-1 to 348-4

England make the inroads they desperately need with the new ball. James Anderson strikes twice before Ricky Ponting falls three balls after completing a fourth 150 against England. Ponting and Simon Katich are untroubled in the opening burst, adding 32 from nine overs before the change of ball. Anderson makes the breakthrough, trapping Katich leg-before on the full. Mike Hussey becomes a second victim when Anderson tempts him to push at one slanting across his body, giving Matt Prior a comfortable catch. Ponting chops a ball from Monty Panesar on to his stumps.

England * * *
Australia * * *

Second session

Australia 348-4 to 458-4