Third Test, day four (close): Australia (263 & 88-2) trail England (376) by 25 runs at Edgbaston.
England set up the possibility of victory on the final day of the Edgbaston Test by dominating proceedings on Sunday.
Half centuries by Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad carried England into a crucial 113 run first innings lead before their bowlers took two Australian wickets to press home their advantage.
Graham Onions swung the ball to remove Simon Katich caught behind and Graeme Swann then bowled a magnificent over to Ricky Ponting which ended with him bowling the Australian captain through the gate for five.
Mike Hussey was inches away from a golden duck when he inside edged a delivery from Onions onto his pads and the ball looped in the air but the bowler fell just short of taking a diving catch. Hussey settled after a nervy start and shepherded Australia to the close on 88 for two. Hussey scored 18 and Shane Watson 34.
Edgbaston loves Flintoff and Flintoff loves Edgbaston. He was cheered to the crease by a full house and the supporters were soon on their feet applauding boundaries from their hero.
Flintoff struck ten fours and a six and was seemingly heading to his first Test century for four years when he fell to Nathan Hauritz.
He had earlier struck Hauritz for a six over mid on and swept him for four to bring up his fifty off 53 balls. Flintoff and Matt Prior had rescued England from a potentially tricky situation after Ian Bell was dismissed for 53 to leave them 168 for five.
Bell had batted well but was lucky to have a reprieve when an lbw decision was turned down off Peter Siddle. He eventually departed when he played across an inswinger from Mitchell Johnson.
With the series at such a pivotal moment tension was high and Johnson had a staring match with Flintoff. It appeared to simply inspire England who took the attack to the Australians with Flintoff and Prior jollying along at more than five an over. Prior eventually miscued a pull off Siddle and was caught at mid on for 41 but just when Australia needed to strike again, Shane Watson was introduced to the attack and soon disappeared to all parts. He conceded 23 off three overs as Stuart Broad and Flintoff continued England’s dominance.
The crowd were muted though when Flintoff left a ball from Hauritz which deflected off his glove and was caught by Michael Clarke at slip. Swann enjoyed a cameo innings hitting five fours and getting up Johnson’s nose before hitting the left-armer’s slower ball to cover. Broad reached his fifty and managed nine fours before he was the last man out driving a catch straight back to bowler Siddle.
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