Murky skies dampen Aussie hopes

That gave the home side an improbable six-run advantage which they extended to 40 for the loss of Andrew Strauss, dismissed by Shane Warne, before bad light cut short the day. Warne, with 35 wickets in the series, seems sure to play a key role in front of a capacity crowd of 23,000 on a final day which could produce any one of three results.

Swinging and seaming the ball, Flintoff hurled down 14.2 overs unchanged either side of lunch on Sunday. Matthew Hoggard wrapped the Australian innings up with a burst of four wickets for four runs in 19 balls. He took four for 97 in all.

England, 2-1 up in the series and needing only a draw to claim the Ashes, made the perfect start, Flintoff breaking through with his seventh ball of the day.

The sky soon darkened but Australia’s batsmen refused the light. Clarke was seeing the ball well enough to bring up the 300 with a fine back-foot force off Flintoff through the covers but even England’s fielders were squinting in the murk.

Hayden finally fell with Australia still 50 runs behind when Flintoff, bowling at a furious pace, angled a ball across the left-hander and seamed it back in to trap him leg before.

Soon, Hoggard trapped Clarke lbw Flintoff barged in again to dismiss Warne. Hoggard then induced a snick from Glenn McGrath to second slip and Brett Lee, swinging, was well caught by Ashley Giles at deep mid-wicket to end the innings.

England, in contrast, had no intention of turning down the light with so much at stake. Strauss was caught off bat and pad with two on the board before Vaughan and Trescothick took the first offer from the umpires to return to the pavilion.

Brief Scores

first innings 373

Australia First innings (overnight 277-2), 367(Langer 105, Hayden 138, Hoggard 4-97, Flintoff 5-78)

England Second innings 34-1 (Warne 1-3).