Australia hold up England victory

Second Test, Day Four: England 425 & 311-6 dec; Australia 215 & 315-5. England need to take the last five Australian wickets today to pull off their first Ashes victory at Lord's since 1934. The tourists meanwhile are chasing a world-record fourth-innings target of 522 to win.

The home side must dislodge Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, who have put on 187 for the sixth wicket so far, a record for the visitors at this ground. The pair came together on 128-5, when it looked as if England would wrap up the Test within four days and have batted for almost 50 overs, Clarke scoring 125 and Haddin approaching his second century of the series on 80.

England declared on their overnight score and swiftly had the Australians on the rack, Andrew Flintoff taking two wickets before lunch. Graeme Swann took a couple after lunch, and Stuart Broad prised out Aussie captain Ricky Ponting for 38.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Derek Pringle, Daily Telegraph: "After three Ashes Tests at Lord’s, Ponting’s highest score at Lord’s remains 42, but if felt jinxed as a batsmen he must have begun to wondered about his luck as captain this match when Michael Hussey was given out by Doctrove after being caught at slip off Swann. Except he hadn’t hit the ball; replays and hot-spot technology showed that his drive had made contact only with the ground, not the ball, which had spun sharply enough out of the bowlers’ foot-holes to be taken by Collingwood at slip. When Swann added Marcus North soon after, bowled off an inside edge, an England victory romp had looked certain. Now, there is just enough doubt to make for an intriguing finale."

Mike Selvey, the Guardian: "The crowd purred at the prospect of a 75-year-old albatross disappearing. England were cock-a-hoop, rampant, expectant. They may even have committed the cardinal sin of getting ahead of themselves. With flair and skill, Clarke and Haddin counter-punched, devil-may-care at the beginning but later with the increasing realisation that they had England on the run. The second new ball came and with it an urgent call to a team huddle from Strauss, concerned that his side had lost focus. Anxiety crept in, the straining for wickets uncomfortable to watch. Jimmy Anderson swung it and beat the bat, but Flintoff was cut and carved so that 26 runs came from the six overs before the light closed in."

Mike Atherton, the Times: "An early wicket should seal Australia’s fate; England should win, and comfortably. They will have to separate the two New South Welshmen, though, Clarke and Haddin, who played magnificently. Clarke represents the aristocracy of Australian batting, light of frame, all twinkling footwork, supple wrists and positive intent. His off-side driving at the start of his innings yesterday was a delight, his down-the-pitch style of play against the off spin of Graeme Swann a lesson. Haddin is stockier in build, his strokes punchy rather than silky smooth; he is worth his place in the side as a batsman alone and he won’t be bullied." ·