England in disarray as Australia tighten grip

England seemed to have gone backwards after tea on day one. The scars caused by Glen McGrath during those few hours on Thursday afternoon, continues to haunt them.

Their fielding and catching looks dismal to say the least, their captain seems to have lost most of his armoury and the spirit which helped England climb up to number two on the ladder has taken a battering during the last three days.

After dismissing Australia for 384 and chasing a victory target of 420 for victory, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss commenced proceedings and got England to a perfect start. The pair not just survived the initial onslaught by McGrath and Lee, but kept the scoreboard ticking and added a respectable 80 for the first wicket.

The match took a similar turn after tea as it did on day one. In thirteen overs England found themselves in a complete mess as they plummeted from none for 80 to 5 for 119.

Brett Lee caught and bowled Strauss (37) after he induced an indecisive short from the left-hander (1 for 80). By this time Shane Warne was turning the ball viciously and Trescothick after surviving several close calls from the leg-spinner, edged one to Hayden at first slip (2 for 96).

Ian Bell failed to read a straightening delivery from Warne and was adjudged plumb in front (3 for 104). Brett Lee accounted for Michael Vaughan clean bowling the captain for four (4 for 112). Warne put England in further trouble when he had Flintoff caught behind for three (5 for 119).

Backing his fifty in the first innings, Kevin Pietersen took the challenge to the Australians, scoring freely and remains not out on 42 and set to notch up back to back half centuries in his debut test match.

Earlier in the day, Simon Katich (67) paired with Gillespie (13) and McGrath (20 not out) to take Australia from their overnight score of 7 for 279 to a commanding 384 all out - a lead of 419.

After dismissing Brett Lee through a run-out very early in the session, England failed to wrap up the tail for which they paid a heavy price. They dropped three further catches, which allowed the likes of Gillespie and McGrath to give support to Katich who scored freely from the other end to add a further 95 for the last two wickets.

Despite a well set Pietersen in the middle, the weather will be Australia's biggest rival tomorrow and if it stays clear, there is nothing stopping the inevitable - an Australian victory.

Full scorecard available here.

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