Edgbaston

Apparently what I had predicted did not turn out to tbe true. Giles took 3 wickets. Flintoff anf Pietersen played Warne the way he needed to be played.

Dont allow Warne to settle into a rhythm or he will eventually get you out. Even Rahul Dravid realised this on the 1999-2000 tour to Australia. Ian Bell needs to understand that. Use your feet when playing back play a positive shot rather than defend. I think far too many batsmen play him on reputation now. Match is interestingly poised.

England leads by 194 runs with 4 wickets remaining. In the first innings as well it was the last 4 wickets which put on 100 runs compared to nothing next to zilch for the Aussies that made the difference. I think Aussies will feel the pressure once the required target goes above 300 runs. Till then they will feel they have the upper hand. Right now they need to play out a session and score about another 100 runs or so by loosing only a couple of wickets.

Warne is bowling splendidly. Lets see how Flintoff and Jones handle him. Also it will be interesting to see if Kasper is able to get the same reverse swing that Jones was producing in the post tea session yesterday.

I would think that the Aussies will give the ball to Kasper and Warne after the lunch interval and go on from there. They would probably attack Jones since he has gone cheaply in his last 2 innings.

The next session may well determine who wins this match which has fortunes oscillating like a Yo-yo.