0.1

McGrath to Strauss, no run

0.2

McGrath to Strauss, 1 run, tighter onto the pads this time, and tickled away to fine leg to get off the mark

Not a lot of grass on a dry wicket

0.3

McGrath to Vaughan, no run, this time it's outside Vaughan's off stump, gently swinging towards the slips, and left well alone

0.4

McGrath to Vaughan, 1 wide, wider, and called as much. McGrath mutters to himself as he huffs back to his mark. Oh the indignity

0.4

McGrath to Vaughan, 1 run, straying onto the right-hander's pads, and clipped into space at midwicket. Both openers are up and running

0.5

McGrath to Strauss, no run

0.6

McGrath to Strauss, no run, a good ball to finish, just short of a length, in that corridor, and Strauss lets it go with the bat tucked inside the line

A tidy first over from McGrath, but would you expect anything less? Now then, here's Nathan Bracken at the Southern Stand End

1.1

Bracken to Vaughan, 1 bye, oops, a rare fumble from Adam Gilchrist lets the batsmen cross for a single. Not the tidiest ball ever delivered, in fairness

1.2

Bracken to Strauss, 1 run, opens the face, and runs this one down to third man

1.3

Bracken to Vaughan, FOUR, the first boundary of the day, and appropriately - in the context of England's summer so far - it's a streaky one! Inside-edge of a forward defensive, and it flies down to fine leg

1.4

Bracken to Vaughan, no run, good length again, turned off the pads but straight to midwicket

Go on, abuse us. It's only fair

So, in summary, England are 24 for 1 after 6.3 overs. And Vaughan has just been sent back for a sharp single that is sure to have tested his damaged knee. But he, and the knee, both survive

And well, blow me down, Ian Bell has just been dropped off the very next delivery! A brilliant seaming delivery from Bracken exploded off the splice, and Adam Gilchrist almost deflected a tough chance straight into Hayden's hooter at slip!

Oh yes you are! Andrew Strauss is OUT. Trying to run the ball through the slip cordon, but Matthew Hayden is on hand to take a very good diving catch off Nathan Bracken.

Andrew Strauss c Hayden b Bracken 12 (1-20)

Apparently we have a power failure at head office, which is never a good sign. Ho hum. I assure you you aren't missing anything just yet.

Well, isn't this great? I can tell you that the score is 18 for 0 after 4.3 overs, and that England are batting very calmly. Andrew Strauss has clipped a four through backward point. Bear with us, we'll get it sorted shortly

Brett Lee, incidentally, still has the chest infection that caused him to miss the Twenty20. And in case you're wondering why there's been no update for the last two overs ... so am I. We've got technical problems I'm afraid. Bear with us

1.5

Bracken to Vaughan, no run

1.6

Bracken to Vaughan, no run

2.1

McGrath to Strauss, no run

2.2

McGrath to Strauss, no run

2.3

McGrath to Strauss, no run

2.4

McGrath to Strauss, 2 runs

2.5

McGrath to Strauss, 3 runs

2.6

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

3.1

Bracken to Strauss, no run

3.2

Bracken to Strauss, no run

3.3

Bracken to Strauss, no run

Just to reiterate. Technical problems have stuffed the commentary for the moment. Normal service will resume when we've caught up with ourselves

3.4

Bracken to Strauss, no run

3.5

Bracken to Strauss, FOUR, well played, uses the pace of the ball to run it past backward point. There we go, I remembered that one

3.6

Bracken to Strauss, no run

4.1

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

4.2

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

4.3

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

4.4

McGrath to Vaughan, 1 run

normal service will resume from the eighth over. So hang in there!

4.5

McGrath to Strauss, 1 run

4.6

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

5.1

Bracken to Strauss, no run

5.2

Bracken to Strauss, no run

5.3

Bracken to Strauss, OUT

AJ Strauss c Hayden b Bracken 12 (22m 20b 1x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

5.4

Bracken to Bell, FOUR

5.5

Bracken to Bell, no run

5.6

Bracken to Bell, no run

6.1

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

6.2

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

6.3

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

6.4

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

6.5

McGrath to Vaughan, 1 run

6.6

McGrath to Bell, no run

7.1

Bracken to Vaughan, FOUR

7.2

Bracken to Vaughan, 2 runs

7.3

Bracken to Vaughan, no run, Nearly back up to date - bet you can't wait!

7.4

Bracken to Vaughan, no run

7.5

Bracken to Vaughan, no run

Another one bites the dust! It is currently 47 for 2, and Michael Vaughan has gone! He played beautifully, but eventually snicked one to Matthew Hayden at slip. Will fill in with the details shortly.

7.6

Bracken to Vaughan, 1 run

8.1

McGrath to Vaughan, no run

8.2

McGrath to Vaughan, no run, tight wicket-to-wicket delivery, and turned into the slips

8.3

McGrath to Vaughan, FOUR

8.4

McGrath to Vaughan, no run, beautiful shot! That's vintage Vaughan, short of a length and pulled imperiously in front of square. The best shot he's played in Australia for four years, I'll wager

8.5

McGrath to Vaughan, 2 runs

8.6

McGrath to Vaughan, FOUR, a wide swinging half-volley from McGrath, and Vaughan is onto it like a flash, square-driving all the way to the fence. Kum-bya-yar Michael Vaughan!

9.1

Bracken to Bell, no run

9.2

Bracken to Bell, 3 runs

9.3

Bracken to Vaughan, 2 runs

9.4

Bracken to Vaughan, OUT

MP Vaughan c Hayden b Bracken 26 (40m 32b 4x4 0x6) SR: 81.25

9.5

Bracken to Pietersen, no run

9.6

Bracken to Pietersen, no run, right, we are officially back up to speed. What a total shambles. Apologies for all that, but it's the end of the first powerplay, and time to take stock. A decent start for England by their recent standards, but Michael Vaughan's dismissal for 26 has tilted the balance to Australia

10.1

McGrath to Bell, no run, time to regroup for England, and for Cricinfo, and Bell starts with a watchful defensive stroke

10.2

McGrath to Bell, no run, wicket-to-wicket delivery, and another perpendicular face of the bat

10.3

McGrath to Bell, 1 run, wider this time, and slapped into the covers to bring the big dog, KP, onto strike

10.4

McGrath to Pietersen, 3 runs, a thickish outside-edge to get off the mark, beats the field but pulls up inside the rope

10.5

McGrath to Bell, no run, up and onto his toes, and driven square to a diving Michael Clarke at point, who roars with anguish that he failed to field it cleanly. Perfectionists, these Aussies.

10.6

McGrath to Bell, no run, outside off stump, and left well alone

11.1

Bracken to Pietersen, 1 run, a controlled slash from Pietersen goes straight through the gap at fourth slip, and arrives at third man on the second bounce

11.2

Bracken to Bell, 1 run

11.3

Bracken to Pietersen, no run, driven firmly, but can't beat the field

11.4

Bracken to Pietersen, no run, good length delivery and a hurried defensive prod

11.5

Bracken to Pietersen, no run, lovely delivery! Saw Pietersen looking to advance, and hit the deck extra hard, with the ball zipping off a good length and just missing the edge of the bat

11.6

Bracken to Pietersen, no run, defensive once again, and a slight inside-edge onto the pads. Lovely over

And here comes the man of the moment for Australia, Stuart Clark. He was a handful in the Tests, how will he fare in the one-dayers?

12.1

Clark to Bell, no run, nice start from Clark - just back of a length, wobbly seam, watchful defence

12.2

Clark to Bell, no run, more of the same. He's found that awkward length already

12.3

Clark to Bell, no run, slightly wider this time, but a checked drive can't beat the field

12.4

Clark to Bell, no run, fuller and straighter onto the pads, and clipped to the man at short midwicket

12.5

Clark to Bell, no run, nothing more than the basics here for Clark, but they are mighty effective. Back of a length once again, and a dot ball once again

12.6

Clark to Bell, 1 run, slightly shorter, jabbing up towards Bell's ribs, and that's fended away for a scampered single. The end of a lovely tight over

Now here's Mitchell Johnson from the Southern Stand End. He's got 14 wickets in 11 ODIs so far, including a rather handy haul against England at Jaipur in their last meeting with the Aussies

13.1

Johnson to Bell, no run, fast arm, but a bit wide of off stump first up. Left well alone

13.2

Johnson to Bell, no run

13.3

Johnson to Bell, no run, awkward lifter, again on off stump. Bell negotiates with a flick of the wrists into the gully again

13.4

Johnson to Bell, no run, more comfortable line and length for the batsman, and that's pushed coolly into the covers

13.5

Johnson to Bell, no run, swinging into the pads, Bell misses out on a flick through midwicket

13.6

Johnson to Bell, no run, a more forceful, front-foot drive, but again, there's no beating the field. A maiden to start Johnson's spell

14.1

Clark to Pietersen, no run, on the pads and flicked away, but a brilliant sprawling stop from Ponting at midwicket. The Aussies are electric in the field

14.2

Clark to Pietersen, no run, he's on the walk again, three casual steps down the track, followed by a cool pushed defence.

14.3

Clark to Pietersen, no run, opens the face and plays into the gully

14.4

Clark to Pietersen, 2 runs, on the pads again, and flicked in the air through the vacant square leg

14.5

Clark to Pietersen, 1 wide, leg side and called. A rare aberration

14.5

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, down the pitch again, and tucked away to midwicket

14.6

Clark to Bell, no run, not an easy time out there for Bell at the moment. He's a bit fidgetty at the crease and can't get this one away through the gully

15.1

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, leg-side, and played off the back foot to midwicket

15.2

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, a wild flog of a shot through the covers, but again KP can't beat the field. It's a war of attrition out there

15.3

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, KP tries to find room in the gully this time, but can't

15.4

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, the frustration is palpable. Still no way through. Johnson hasn't conceded a run in ten deliveries

15.5

Johnson to Pietersen, FOUR, he has now! And it's a streaky slash through the vacant slip cordon, and all the way to the boundary. Well, they all count

15.6

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, another rash drive, but this time the ball fizzes through to the keeper. Another fine over

16.1

Clark to Bell, FOUR, at last, some welcome runs for Bell, steered past point to the boundary

16.2

Clark to Bell, 1 run, on the back foot, turned to short midwicket

16.3

Clark to Pietersen, no run, lovely delivery. Tight on the stumps, Pietersen can only offer a straight bat, and he's lucky not to get the edge as the ball whistles through

16.4

Clark to Pietersen, FOUR, that's the shot! He's been looking for that one ever since he came to the crease, but this time Pietersen walks straight into an effortless straight drive. He's starting to find his range now ...

16.5

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, on the back foot again, and tucked to midwicket

16.6

Clark to Bell, no run, outside off stump, and left well alone

For those of you wondering where all the wit and jocular banter has gone in this match. Well, my co-commentator, Will Luke, will be hauling himself out of his pit around about now. Til then I'm on me tod, I'm afraid!

17.1

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, shuffled across his stumps and picked up at midwicket

17.2

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, good length delivery, driven straight down the ground. Cut off by mid-off, but he can't stop the single

17.3

Johnson to Bell, OUT, Gottim! And you have to say that was coming! Johnson's been turning the screw superbly since he came on, and this time Bell couldn't hold himself back - down the track, and a loose drive straight to mid-off, comfortably lodged in Mike Hussey's midriff

IR Bell c Hussey b Johnson 15 (54m 29b 2x4 0x6) SR: 51.72

Paul Collingwood is the new man

17.4

Johnson to Collingwood, 1 run, off the mark instantly with a nudge through square leg, but England have a bit of regrouping to do here

17.5

Johnson to Pietersen, no run

17.6

Johnson to Pietersen, 3 runs, not timed, but effective as the ball pulls up inside the fine leg rope. How much now rests on this man ...

18.1

Clark to Pietersen, no run, lodged on the back foot, and unable to find any gaps at midwicket

18.2

Clark to Pietersen, no run

18.3

Clark to Pietersen, 2 runs, not the best of throws, and Collingwood quite possibly should have been on his way there! Back for two, and Hayden's throw from mid-on has the batsman sprawling at the non-striker's end

18.4

Clark to Pietersen, 2 runs, another flick, another couple of runs, but safer this time as the throw comes in from deep midwicket

18.5

Clark to Pietersen, no run, onto the back foot and defended watchfully

18.6

Clark to Pietersen, no run, onto the front foot, by way of a change, but it's the same result&

19.1

Johnson to Collingwood, no run

19.2

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, outside off stump, Collingwood takes a swish but the ball keeps a touch low and scuttles through to the keeper

19.3

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, brilliantly nagging line-and-length bowling going on here. Collingwood connects this time, but can't apply any pace to the ball

19.4

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, still in that off-stump corridor, and defended with a late shuffle

19.5

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, banged in back of a length, angled across towards the slips. And another dot ball

19.6

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, on the legs, but still no way to whip it away. England are under the cosh here

20.1

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, trouble here! Ponting dives, fields, rolls and flings, but just misses the stumps from midwicket. Collingwood would have been out for all money. Brilliant stuff

20.2

Clark to Collingwood, no run, more watchful in defence, as Collingwood continues to struggle to double his runs tally&

20.3

Clark to Collingwood, 1 run, nudged into the leg side with minimal foot movement, and there it is. He's doubled his tally

20.4

Clark to Pietersen, FOUR, Shot! A perfect straight drive - an easy stride followed by a full flowing bat. Shaves the stumps at the non-striker's end, and all the way to the fence

20.5

Clark to Pietersen, no run, more brilliant fielding, this time from Andrew Symonds in the covers

20.6

Clark to Pietersen, (no ball) 1 run, tucked off the hips to keep the strike, but it's a no-ball, so one more to come

20.6

Clark to Collingwood, no run, firm wallop through the off side, but nicely intercepted at point by Michael Clarke

21.1

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, more positive intent from Pietersen as he comes down the track, and edges a drive down to third man

21.2

Johnson to Collingwood, no run

21.3

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, pushed to cover, but with no power

21.4

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, lovely ball, gently but deceptively swinging, and beats Collingwood's loose drive

21.5

Johnson to Collingwood, 2 runs, up in the air ... but safe! That was a loose pull from Collingwood, but it spiralled just out of the reach of Symonds, running back from mid-on

21.6

Johnson to Collingwood, 1 run, good length again, and pushed into the leg side

It's all a bit humdrum, to be perfectly honest. England are just going through the motions

22.1

Clark to Collingwood, no run, solid back-foot defence. But solidity isn't the be-all and end-all

22.2

Clark to Collingwood, no run, pushed into the covers once again. God, England are rubbish at one-dayers

22.3

Clark to Collingwood, 1 run, on the back foot, and turned to square leg

22.4

Clark to Pietersen, no run, a big hooning drive, but again no timing. Picked up in the covers, as the pressure ticks up again

22.5

Clark to Pietersen, no run, back and defends. At least there are still wickets intact

22.5

Clark to Pietersen, no run, back and defends. At least there are still wickets intact

22.5

Clark to Pietersen, no run, back and defends. At least there are still wickets intact

22.6

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, driven into the gap at long-on, but no freebies on offer

22.6

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, driven into the gap at long-on, but no freebies on offer

22.6

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, driven into the gap at long-on, but no freebies on offer

23.1

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, glanced to backward square leg

Now then, the pressure shifts back onto Collingwood, who has a ring field throttling his every attempt at run-scoring

23.2

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, nope, no way through there

23.3

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, nor there. Lovely tight bowling from Johnson. That left-arm angle is toying with Collingwood's mind

23.4

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, opens the face and attempts to pick up a single, but Pietersen rightly sends him back

23.5

Johnson to Collingwood, 2 runs, oooh ... lucky lucky! Fended into space behind point, but Collingwood should have been run out as he dived for his second run. The pressure is really telling out there for England

23.6

Johnson to Collingwood, 2 runs, a thickish drive brings up England's 100

Here's Michael Clarke to launch Australia's post-Warne spin era

24.1

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, tidy loop and decent line,

24.2

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, flighted delivery and pushed into the covers

24.3

Clarke to Collingwood, no run

24.4

Clarke to Collingwood, no run

24.5

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, more width this time, but the same result. Pressure, pressure

24.6

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, good loop and flight, and glanced down to fine leg

Hallejuiah - the cavalry has arrived. Martin Williamson and Will Luke have just burst through the door, full of improbable 5am bluff and bonhomie

25.1

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, full onto the stumps and pushed into the covers

25.2

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, slower delivery, and a mistimed flick is the result from Collingwood

25.3

Johnson to Collingwood, 1 run

25.4

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, back of a length and slapped out to the cover sweeper

25.5

Johnson to Collingwood, 2 runs, a rare couple for the struggling Collingwood, who slaps the ball off the front foot to cover

25.6

Johnson to Collingwood, no run, lovely ball, angled away from the right-hander, and just eludes the edge as well

26.1

Clarke to Pietersen, no run

26.2

Clarke to Pietersen, no run

26.3

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, good flight and loop, Clarke is not afraid to tease the England batsmen at the moment

26.4

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, down on one knee and paddled away for a single

26.5

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run

26.6

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, another paddle, and another single.

Right, that's it for me for now, you'll be glad to hear. Here's Will Luke to take up the tale

Morning all, or afternoon depending on where you are

27.1

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, cut, or late cut, but straight to point. Still can't find the gap

27.2

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, full and straight, clipped down to mid-on

27.3

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, fuller still and Collingwood times this back to the bowler

27.4

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, on leg stump this time but Collingwood, despite whipping it forcefully off the back foot, can't find the gap at midwicket

Field spreads now, with two balls left

27.5

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, and it's a touch shorter this time, Collingwood goes for a delicate late glance but misses

27.6

Bracken to Collingwood, 1 run, and eventually he gets a run, clunking it off the back foot - but the length was again excellent from Bracken and Collingwood can't time it

Michael Clarke to continue. Oh no, there goes the Boony doll. "The poms are comin'" he cries. Be quiet

28.1

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, swept without power to a short fine leg

28.2

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, ooh, lovely shot punching it straight down the ground but just for a single

28.3

Clarke to Collingwood, 2 runs, delicately reverse swept down to third man

28.4

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, ooh and he goes for it again but misses, and is hit on the pad

28.5

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, punched down the ground

28.6

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, excellently bowled; he saw the batsman coming down the track and banged it down short, and on his pads, preventing him from driving

Super over, that

29.1

Bracken to Collingwood, FOUR, whipped off his legs to White at deep midwicket, it's in the air and going straight down his throat - but no! The sun beats him! He makes a total hash of it, ducking his head and the ball bobbles over for four

29.2

Bracken to Collingwood, 1 run, worked off his pads for a single

29.3

Bracken to Pietersen, 1 run, pushed down the ground

He's over the wicket. In case I forgot to mention.

29.4

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, good, tight bowling; on middle stump and it's defended off the back foot

29.5

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, driven on the front foot but straight to cover

29.6

Bracken to Collingwood, no run, a little wider of the off stump but it's just short of a length and Collingwood can't time it. Again.

It's all very middle-overy out there

30.1

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen has absolutely hammered this straight back to Clarke...bump ball, but that would've stung

30.2

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, "noice" shouts Gilchrist to one on leg stump which Pietersen pings to mid on

30.3

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, on leg stump and he works it to leg

30.4

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, just a touch shorter of a length and it's punched off the back foot through midwicket

30.5

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, and he meets the length of this, sweeping it fine - timing it nicely, too

30.6

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, punched to midwicket and Pietersen raws a Neanderthalesque "no"

Cameron White to replace Bracken. Here comes the great big winner.

31.1

White to Collingwood, no run, just outside off, the googly which Collingwood reads - I think - and he cuts it without timing

31.2

White to Collingwood, 1 run, full, on middle stump and it's well timed down the ground

31.3

White to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen comes down the track but White sees him and it hits his pad

31.4

White to Pietersen, no run, just outside off, the big non-turner from White again and Pietersen prods it to cover

31.5

White to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen comes massively forward, driving to mid on

31.6

White to Pietersen, 2 runs, worked through midwicket and they scamper two

32.1

Clarke to Collingwood, 2 runs, neatly swept to fine leg, who is quite deep, for two

Come on. Give it a whack

32.2

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, timed, not whacked, to cover

32.3

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, half a shuffle down the pitch from Pietersen but Clarke adjusts his length and the batsman can only clunk it to mid on

32.4

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, pushed to mid on

32.5

Clarke to Collingwood, FOUR, shot; that's more like it from England. Collingwood hits this over extra cover - Clarke, Gilchrist and just about everyone else cries "catch" but it's very well placed

32.6

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, defended on the front foot

33.1

White to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen comes down the track to make this into a full bunger, but it hits too high on the bat and it's clunked to mid on

33.2

White to Pietersen, 1 run, defended on the front foot

33.3

White to Collingwood, 1 run, ooh, a nice bit of indrift but Pietersen clunks it to mid on

33.4

White to Pietersen, SIX, bash! That's the way to do it, hitting it over extra cover - high and handsome for six. That was a beaut.

And there's his fifty

33.5

White to Pietersen, 1 run, pushed down the ground

33.6

White to Collingwood, no run, Collingwood defends this on the front foot. Gilchrist "loves" it apparently.

34.1

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, down the pitch confidently and punched to long on

34.2

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, and Collingwood comes down the pitch this time but can only push it back to the bowler

34.3

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, expansively driven but straight to cover

34.4

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, a very nice late cut, delicately played

34.5

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, the wrong line from Clarke, drifting down leg and it's easily turned round the corner for a single

34.6

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, down the pitch and pushed, without great power or timing, for a single

Clarke's tiring a bit here. He, Gilchrist and Symonds are having a meeting in the middle...looks like he'll be coming out of the attack for now

Long off, long on - the field is deep here

35.1

White to Collingwood, 1 run, chipped over short midwicket, "catch" is the cry from Gilchrist but it's neatly placed

35.2

White to Pietersen, 2 runs, swept on the full down to fine leg, very well played

35.3

White to Pietersen, no run, down the pitch and Pietersen pings this straight into Collingwood's knee. Ouch. Just short of the knee in fact

35.4

White to Pietersen, SIX, oh yes, that's massive. Ping pang, and Pietersen smashes this over long on

35.5

White to Pietersen, SIX, here we go! Straighter this time, Pietersen crashes it over the bowler's head, flatter. But the same result

Terrific hitting from Pietersen. England are pretty well placed here

35.6

White to Pietersen, no run, timed down - and along - the ground

36.1

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, punched down the ground on the front foot

36.2

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, that's the right length, nice and full and straight

36.3

Clarke to Pietersen, no run, on leg stump and it's well timed, albeit without much power, to long on

36.4

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, ooh and Pietersen shuffles across, and down, the pitch and sweeps it to fine leg

36.5

Clarke to Collingwood, no run, an ugly reverse sweep from Collingwood. Not timed

36.6

Clarke to Collingwood, 1 run, down the pitch but Collingwood again can't time it

A change in bowling. Some big chancer called Glenn McGrath into the attack

37.1

McGrath to Collingwood, 2 runs, full, on off stump and Collingwood check-drives this past McGrath, down the ground and Mitchell Johnson sprints from long-on to save four. Excellent fielding

37.2

McGrath to Collingwood, OUT, the slower ball from McGrath, Collingwood picks it but can't execute this lofted shot as well as he might and it's hit straight to Johnson at long on

PD Collingwood c Johnson b McGrath 43 (76m 70b 2x4 0x6) SR: 61.42

In comes McGrath; out goes Collingwood. Good captaincy from Ponting there, but Collingwood again struggled to force the pace. Good time for Flintoff to come to the crease, to join Pietersen. An explosive pairing, but these two have hardly shared in any sizeable partnerships in one-dayers so far. I'll dig them out when I get a second

37.3

McGrath to Flintoff, no run, ooh and a welcoming bouncer from McGrath, Flintoff ducks out of the way

Five men saving the single

37.4

McGrath to Flintoff, no run, well bowled! Full, inswinging yorker which Flintoff digs out

Excellent "death" bowling from McGrath, even though we're not actually at the death...

37.5

McGrath to Flintoff, no run, oh dear, a very ugly, concrete-footed swish outside his off stump from Flintoff

37.6

McGrath to Flintoff, no run, angled off the back foot to Clarke at backward point. They go for a single, oh no they don't - Clarke sends in a throw and Pietersen dives back in his crease at the non-striker's end

and it's timed down the ground

38.1

Clarke to Pietersen, no run

38.2

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, full and straight and hit down the ground once more, but without sufficient power

Ponting's moved short fine leg to backward point on the off side

38.3

Clarke to Flintoff, 1 run, drifting down the leg side and Flintoff turns his wrists, placing this through midwicket for a single

38.4

Clarke to Pietersen, 1 run, he stands tall here, elegantly driving it down the ground

38.5

Clarke to Flintoff, FOUR, slog swept with immense power over deep midwicket. Calmly, solidly smashed

38.6

Clarke to Flintoff, no run, defended on the front foot

39.1

McGrath to Pietersen, no run, ooh, excellent bouncer which is quickly evaded by the batsman

39.2

McGrath to Pietersen, 1 run, shot! What an extraordinary shot just for a single, down the pitch and slapping it through midwicket

39.3

McGrath to Flintoff, 1 run, swinging into Flintoff's pads who gives himself a touch of room outside leg, opening the face and guiding it to cover

39.4

McGrath to Pietersen, no run, smashed with a flourish but he can't find the gap at extra cover

39.5

McGrath to Pietersen, 2 runs, deliciously driven down the ground with the straightest of bats. Again, a marvellous shot just for a single though

39.6

McGrath to Pietersen, no run, ouch. Pietersen skips down the pitch to a bouncer and is struck in the chest. Gilchrist pops over for a sledge, as does McGrath and Symonds makes it a trio of insults. No surprise there, given how Pietersen has skipped down the wicket to McGrath all summer (or winter, depending where you live). It just bounced a touch too much, cannoning into his ribs and he slumps to the ground.

Atherton suggests Pietersen was beaten by pace. Steady on...

Flintoff isn't saying a word. Here comes the physio...this isn't looking promising for England. And there's a real shiner of a bruise on his right ribcage. Ponting skips over for a word, tells them to get on with it - and off goes Conway. So Pietersen is ready to resume...doubt he'll be running down the pitch again for a while

Johnson into the attack

40.1

Johnson to Flintoff, no run, clunked into the covers

40.2

Johnson to Flintoff, 1 run, Flintoff waits for this on the back foot and bashes it off the back foot through the covers

40.3

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, shorter, Pietersen tries to pull but can't time it

40.4

Johnson to Pietersen, no run, glanced off the back foot

Pietersen looks in pain here after that rib injury

40.5

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, angled behind square, Clarke is so quick to run round, picks up one-handed and sends in a decent throw

40.6

Johnson to Flintoff, 1 run, pushed into the covers

Enough from me. Here's Wendy Miller for a few overs, with Stuart Clark into the attack

Why thank you. How splendid to be back

41.1

Clark to Flintoff, 1 wide, swinging away down the leg side. Not quite the start we've come to expect

41.1

Clark to Flintoff, 2 runs, good length delivery, heaved to long-on, and McGrath fumbles to make a second a formality

41.2

Clark to Flintoff, FOUR, a low full-bunger, and clobbered straight down the ground with immense power and timing! Shot, Freddie!

41.3

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, wild swish and a top-edge, but it lands safe and sound. Flintoff fights on

41.4

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, down on one knee and an extravagant drive, followed by a grimace. Those ribs are still smarting

41.5

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, attempted yorker, punched into space on the leg-side. Useful stand building here

41.5

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, attempted yorker, punched into space on the leg-side. Useful stand building here

41.6

Clark to Pietersen, 1 run, cracked rib or no cracked rib. That's another single

42.1

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, short, and pulled to deep midwicket

42.2

Johnson to Flintoff, FOUR, short, and walloped! Flat and fast, over cow corner for four! Flintoff is on a mission to make amends for the Test series

42.3

Johnson to Flintoff, 1 run, gives himself room, and squeezes another single past point. He's looking much more relaxed at the crease today ...

42.4

Johnson to Pietersen, 1 run, good rotation of the strike

42.5

Johnson to Flintoff, no run, makes room again, but can't find the gap

42.6

Johnson to Flintoff, 1 run, a big swish, once again, and a deflection off the pads. All the same, a decent over for England, who have a shot at 260 if these two keep goings

43.1

Clark to Flintoff, no run, yorker length, and blocked back down the pitch

43.2

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, big swish again, and another run is the result as the ball bobbles into the covers

43.3

Clark to Pietersen, FOUR, banged in, and biffed over backward square leg! Pulled off the front foot, which is quite some feat. Even if he does jerk his head back at the last minute

43.4

Clark to Pietersen, OUT, another vast swipe ... and it's swirling, swirling, swirling down to Andrew Symonds, just inside the long-on boundary! A massive breakthrough for Australia, and Pietersen is gone, just when he was looking at his most dangerous

KP Pietersen c Symonds b Clark 82 (143m 91b 4x4 3x6) SR: 90.10

Here comes Nixon, making his debut

43.5

Clark to Nixon, no run, full and straight, dug out by Nixon

43.6

Clark to Nixon, no run, on off stump this time but it's too full for Nixon who can only clunk it back to the bowler

Nixon is the seventh oldest England player to make his debut in one-dayers. Get out the tartan rug and slippers.

44.1

Johnson to Flintoff, no run, ooh and Flintoff tries to smash this through extra cover but it's too full, and too quick and he misses out

44.2

Johnson to Flintoff, no run, nearly! Well bowled, Johnson; he held that one back, Flintoff drove it on the up but it fell agonisingly short of McGrath at backward point

44.3

Johnson to Flintoff, 1 run, clunked, heavy-footed and heavy-batted, into the covers. Ungainly shot, that, and without his customary massive power

44.4

Johnson to Nixon, no run, Nixon turns the face of the bat, pushing it to mid on

44.5

Johnson to Nixon, OUT, gone! Full, straight and that would've plucked out his leg stump. Excellent length from Johnson and with a touch of away swing to the left hander who, trying to work it to leg, was beaten by pace...and up goes the finger

PA Nixon lbw b Johnson 0 (5m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

No dream start for Nicco. Here's Jamie Dalrymple to replace him

44.6

Johnson to Dalrymple, no run, good ball, quick and straight and Dalrymple digs it out with a lot of bottom hand

Australia have done well in the last five overs, taking 2 for 28

45.1

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, very full but not yorker-length-full, Flintoff digs it out and times it past Clark for a quick, and well-run, single

45.2

Clark to Dalrymple, 1 run, neatly played by Dalrymple, just angling the face of the bat down to third man

45.3

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, calmly played by Flintoff, stepping outside his off stump and punching it to the bowler's right. No great intent or power in that stroke, just content to pick up the single

45.4

Clark to Dalrymple, no run, that's nicely bowled from Clark, cramping Dalrymple for room who can't time it sufficiently

45.5

Clark to Dalrymple, no run, and he pushes this out into the covers

45.6

Clark to Dalrymple, 1 run, full and straight again - Clark is the perfect man for Australia in these dying overs - but Dalrymple places this well, just to mid-off's left

McGrath back into the attack. The old Stuart Clark.

46.1

McGrath to Dalrymple, no run, right on the money as usual, just outside off stump and this one cuts back into the batsman who defends off the back foot

46.2

McGrath to Dalrymple, no run, boshed to mid off but it's Michael Clarke positioned there...not a man you take a single to

Kevin Pietersen's gone off for a scan on those injured ribs

46.3

McGrath to Dalrymple, OUT, down the leg side, Dalymple tries to hook this and misses. Gilchrist politely asks the umpire who, after a couple of seconds, raises his finger! What a shocker that is. Replays indicate the ball hit his helmet, and Dalrymple trudges off fairly fuming

JWM Dalrymple c †Gilchrist b McGrath 2 (8m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25.00

10 runs scored off the last three overs. Welcome to England in one-day cricket. All is not lost, however; it's Jon Lewis replacing Dalrymple.

46.4

McGrath to Lewis, 1 run, oh nicely played from Lewis, just angling this down to third man

Flintoff back on strike with two balls left in the over. Time for him to go mad.

46.5

McGrath to Flintoff, no run, excellent bowling, an inswinging yorker which Flintoff digs out back to the bowler

46.6

McGrath to Flintoff, 1 run, again it's too full for Flintoff to get hold of it and he can only clunk it into the covers

Superb "death" cricket by Australia here. England have been asphyxiated.

47.1

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, the full bunger on leg stump which hurries Flintoff somewhat, who turns it through midwicket looking for two...but only a single is on offer

47.2

Clark to Lewis, 1 leg bye, full, into Lewis's pads who is beaten by the inswing. Startled, he realises the ball has bobbled out into the off side and Flintoff hurries him through for a single

47.3

Clark to Flintoff, FOUR, bish bash bosh! Just short of a length, in Flintoff's area and he simply lifts this just wide of long-on for a resounding four

Fine shot. More, please

47.4

Clark to Flintoff, 2 runs, pushed through midwicket for a single. Oh, they're going for two and they get it comfortably

47.5

Clark to Flintoff, 1 run, swinging into Flintoff's pads, a full toss which he bashes down the ground

47.6

Clark to Lewis, 1 run, again a full toss; again an England batsman can't do enough with it, just pushing it down the ground

48.1

McGrath to Lewis, 1 run, very full, swinging into Lewis who tries to smear it through cover but gets a thin edge, falling short of Gilchrist, and they manage to steal a single

Flintoff on strike.

48.2

McGrath to Flintoff, 1 run, forced past extra cover for a single

48.3

McGrath to Lewis, 1 run, well bowled! Excellent cricket from McGrath, full, straight, swinging into Lewis who, to his credit, dug this out well

48.4

McGrath to Flintoff, 1 run, again it's a touch too full from McGrath and Flintoff is cramped for room, just meekly prodding it down to long-on for another single

48.5

McGrath to Lewis, 2 runs, reasonably aggressive shot from Lewis, giving himself room and hitting over the top

And that's England's equal best score at the MCG

48.6

McGrath to Lewis, 1 run, smeared through cover

Lewis has done pretty well so far here, scampering singles and generally batting with awareness - always keen to get Flintoff back on strike

Round the wicket

49.1

Bracken to Lewis, 2 runs, clunked into the covers

49.2

Bracken to Lewis, OUT, what a catch! A full toss which Lewis sliced off a thick outside edge just to Ponting's right at backward point, and he dived brilliantly taking the ball horizontally, one-handed. Quite superb fielding

J Lewis c Ponting b Bracken 9 (13m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

Here comes Monty! All is not lost

49.3

Bracken to Flintoff, 2 runs, Flintoff pumps this down the ground to long-on, oh and they're going for two - Symonds throws to the wrong end, and Monty is like grease lightning between the wickets

49.4

Bracken to Flintoff, FOUR, shot! Freddie steps outside his off stump and swivels this over deep midwicket. Fabulous

49.5

Bracken to Flintoff, 2 runs, again steps outside his off stump, meets this on the full and it's timed through midwicket - and they steal a single. Oh no, they're going for two

49.6

Bracken to Flintoff, 2 runs, pushed through the covers

And there ends England's innings. Everything looked possible while Pietersen was at the crease and, as ever, he played excellently. Flintoff looked in good touch too but the constant tumbling of wickets at the other end prevented him from getting away from Australia. All in all, a very fine performance from Australia's bowlers. That's it from me. Join Andrew after the innings break for Australia's chase.