BBC Home
Explore the BBC
| Help
---------------
CHOOSE A SPORT
RELATED BBC SITES
Last Updated: Saturday, 27 August 2005, 17:45 GMT 18:45 UK
Jonathan Agnew column
Jonathan Agnew
By Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Nottingham

Australia reach 222-4 after following on at Trent Bridge, just 37 runs behind, but England remain on top.

PLAYER OF THE DAY

Simon Jones
Simon Jones collected his second five-wicket haul of the series with another excellent example of controlled swing bowling.

Jones has been transformed from the raw tearaway who made his debut against India three summers ago.

Then, he was not even trusted with the new ball by his county, Glamorgan, and never played one-day cricket because he was considered too wild.

During his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury, Troy Cooley sorted out his run up and action, and the result is remarkable.

He is now nursing an ankle injury, and might not be able to bowl again in the match, but has already made a major impact on the match.

For pure brilliance, Andrew Strauss deserves mention for one of the finest slip catches you could ever see to dismiss Adam Gilchrist.

KEY MOMENT

The brilliant run out of Ricky Ponting for 48 by the substitute fielder, Gary Pratt, was critical.

Damien Martyn faced the first ball after a drinks break - always dangerous - and pushed a ball from Andrew Flintoff into the off side.

He called "yes" and ran immediately. Ponting responded, but as he stretched for safety, Pratt's direct throw from 15 yards hit the stumps.

Although umpire Dar nodded his head immediately to confirm that Ponting was out, the Australian captain had to wait for a few agonising minutes while the third official confirmed his fate.

In Flintoff's next over Martyn, who was probably distracted by Ponting's dismissal, edged to Geraint Jones for 13.

TALKING POINT

Ricky Ponting is run out
Gary Pratt's throw was bang on target
Ponting's reaction to his second innings dismissal was amazing.

Clearly furious at gifting his wicket away with a run out, he vented his anger at England's entirely legitimate use of a substitute for Simon Jones, who was in hospital at the time for tests on his ankle.

He shouted obscenities at the England balcony as he stomped into the pavilion - a sure sign the Aussies are now rattled.

England would far rather Jones was on the field and able to bowl and, under the same rules, Australia's Michael Clarke had a substitute fielder at Old Trafford for all but 11 balls of the match.

DAY FOUR PROSPECTS

England are favourites to wrap up the match and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

There is still the danger, though, that Australia could rustle up enough runs from their lower order to set England a small, but highly pressurised target in their second innings.




RELATED BBC LINKS:

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

ALSO IN THIS SECTION England wary of Taylor's return
Bell keen to keep opening role
Pietersen to get new England deal
Anderson puts England in control

E-mail services | Sport on mobiles/PDAs | Headlines for your site

MMIX

Back to top

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other sport...

BBC Sport Academy >> | BBC News >> | BBC Weather >>
About the BBC | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | Contact us
banner watch listen bbc sport