Andrew Flintoff Puts Australia to the Sword As England Take Upper Hand

Tea

The game ignited in the afternoon; there were echoes of 2005 with Andrew Flintoff providing rich entertainment for an increasingly vociferous Hollies Stand.

In two and a half hours England added 157 runs for the loss of three wickets from 32 overs and the pendulum swung again. Initially Australia retained their morning momentum. The much- improved Mitchell Johnson had Bell palpably lbw; it really was hitting the middle of middle and Rudi Koertzen got it right.

There followed a sparky sixth wicket partnership of 89 between Matt Prior and Flintoff. Prior was in no way outshone by his partner. There were fluent strokes square of the wicket and one straight drive against Siddle had everyone gasping. Maybe it felt all too easy for Prior. He could not temper his stroke play. An exasperating mistimed pull shot followed and he was gone.

But by now Flintoff was in full flow and the crowd was delighting in the massive all-rounder's return to form with the bat, though if they watched him running between the wickets they might have been more concerned. Flintoff stroke play was sure, but he was hobbling, rather than running, up and down the pitch.

Ponting might have liked to look for a McGrath or a Warne to restore order, but they were not there. Instead he turned to Shane Watson who bowled three insipid overs; Peter Siddle could not put his finger in the dyke. In fact it was Nathan Hauritz, an off-spinner on a seamer's day, who came to the rescue with a remarkable delivery 15 minutes before tea. It pitched very wide of off stump in the footmarks of Johnson. The ball turned and lifted, took the glove of Flintoff before ballooning to slip. There are still 44 overs remaining today. Game not over.

Lunch

We had to wait until 12 for the start but first impressions were that there is still time for something to happen in this match. Just a tinge of green was visible on the pitch. There was a bit of swing and a bit seam available for the bowlers. Batting was never straightforward.

It took Andrew Strauss half an hour to muster another five runs. Then he tried to cut a lifting delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus, which was not quite cuttable. It was too close to Strauss's body and Graham Manou completed his second Test catch.

Runs came from Ian Bell's bat. There were several sweet cover drives and a gorgeous clip through midwicket but also a couple of vehement lbw shouts from Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson. Bell survived both. He also hit the ball in the air straight into Simon Katich's chest at short leg from the meat of the bat. Has someone up there decided that Bell's return to Test cricket on his home ground will be a personal triumph? He was unbeaten on 46 at lunch.

In his brief spell Johnson looked threatening. He was on target, near full pace and a handful. But it was Hilfenhaus who removed Paul Collingwood on the stroke of lunch. Collingwood drove loosely at a swinging half-volley and Ponting took the catch at second slip. It's a good contest and the crowd are loving it. Don't take that draw for granted.