If Australia can bat at 3.5 an over for 70 overs they'll be a lot further ahead than 170. England will be attacking and putting the ball up there to swing, so there will be plenty of runs for Australia, even if they're primarily defending.

Yes but your assuming they'll go at 3.5 an over - I reckon it'll be a no risks approach and will leave as much as they can, especially early on.

At around 3 an over they'll be a lead of around the 170-180 mark for England to chase after 70 overs. If they bat for less than 70 overs they'll be up against it.

They could also just bat out the day with relative ease with tons from Hussey, Clarke and North to really p*** on our bonfire.

Don't think you'll see Hussey leaving too many lol.

They'll easily score at 3.5. Their problem isn't runs, it's wickets. Strauss will attack from the go and won't have to defend runs at all. To set any kind of defensive field would suggest that he think England will collapse in a session. To plan for that would show no confidence in the batsmen.

The swing bowlers will pitch it up, Flintoff and Broad will put in loads of bouncers and Swann will be attacking the stumps. The ball will fly. On a fifth day pitch and with a swinging ball, the Aussies will not find anything easy. In fact they'll find it far harder to bat time than they would to play normally, so they'll be looking to score. Australia will still think they're in with a shout.

it's not a day 5 pitch though, more like a day 2/3 pitch

It's not just about use. For four days it's been under covers and hasn't been watered.

We've already seen the odd ball staying low.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of a field Strauss sets.

We need to attack to take wickets and I can see the slips and gully region being well manned but he won't want to give away easy runs as we'll need to chase them down - a couple of sweepers in the deep might not be a bad idea. Despite Hussey's leave in the 1st Innings I really don't think they'll be playing at anything they feel they don't have to - not with it swinging away from the bat. Australia would take a draw now if offered it no question.

Also reducing the run rate also builds pressure which results in wickets. Remember Adelaide in 06 - it was Englands scoring rate which lost them the game ultimately so we must have one eye on the run rate.

England should be in a no lose situation for if they do get to bat last, lose some wickets and things get a bit hairy they can always take the light and end it if it's overcast - otherwise they can stay on until the 98 overs are through.

It will. It'll tell us a lot about his captaincy skills.

To me it's either win or not and England need 8 wickets to even give themselves a chance of winning. I wouldn't be worrying about the runs until I've got the wickets. And the best way to slow the scoring rate is to take wickets anyway.

Two men on the drive is about as defensive as I'd get, and that's just to give Anderson and Onions the confidence to pitch it up. Freddie and Broad can have two men on the hook so hat they can purvey as many rib-ticklers as they want.

Ball's not swinging. Looks like no reason to stay up.

Gonna be a draw. Too late now

They reckon Brett Lee will be back for next test which might makes things less easy for us.

4 for 291. Definitely looks like a draw unless the Poms are saved by divine intervention.

Well, that's payback for Cardiff.

Maybe.

Brett Lee averages 40 with the ball in England so hasn't been that much of a threat in the past.

Brett Lee overrated to be honest....

Clark is the best bowler Australia have. But he's getting a bit long in the tooth.