25th - 29th August - Click Here for Day 2 Report | Day 3 Report | Day 4 Report

Day One - Match Scorecard

At the close of play on day one of the fourth Test, England had reached 4 for 229 losing three wickets in the final session, cut short once again by rain and bad light. Only 60 overs were possibly today, 30 short of the 90 over minimum, equivalent to a complete session lost due to bad weather.

Trescothick and Strauss got England off to a flyer with a solid 105 run partnership before Strauss fell to a freakish catch by Hayden at slip. Warne had gone at a run a ball before he made the breakthrough, Strauss swept and caught the under edge of his bat, the ball rebounded onto his foot before looping up to Hayden at first slip to take a simple catch. Both umpires failed to see the path of the ball and it was left to the third umpire to rule that Strauss was out.

For the third time in the series the Australians took a wicket with a no-ball, Trescothick's angled bat sending the ball crashing into the off-stump. Lee, angered by his mistake sent another short delivery in, only to see it crashing to the boundary for four.

Only three overs were bowled immediately after lunch due to the weather but when play resumed Australia hit back with two quick wickets from debutant Tait. He accounted for Trescothick (65) with a fast inswinger, the batsman playing all around the ball. Bell (3) edged a good length delivery, unsure of whether to leave or play the ball alone, Gilchrist taking a good diving catch to his right. Gilchrist's catch marked his 300th in Test cricket, only the fourth wicket keeper to achieve the feat.

Without the injured Glenn McGrath Australia were always going to struggle with just three pacemen and a spinner. It meant the Australian attack had an unfamiliar look to it. It was the first time since 1996 that neither McGrath nor Jason Gillespie had been in the line-up.

Both Pietersen and Vaughan were the recipients of poor fielding, both dropped to chances that should have been taken. Kasprowicz failed to hold onto a caught and bowled and Vaughan thanked Hayden for his dropped effort in the gully.

Forced to enter the fray to help the flagging bowlers, Ponting bowled his medium paced deliveries and somewhat be musingly, both batsmen failed to attack him with any success. Vaughan who had moved into the 50's in stylish fashion became Ponting's first and only wicket of the session. It was the second time in consecutive Tests Vaughan had fallen to the part timer bowler, Katich accounting for his wicket at Old Trafford.

Rain and bad light forced an early finish a little after six, England happy with a successful day's play and despite loosing four wickets remain favourites to take a 2-1 lead in the Ashes. Australia will need to bowl a tighter line in the morning with Flintoff and Pietersen waiting to attack at a moments notice.

Day Two - Match Scorecard

England have one hand on the Ashes following a domination over Australia not seen since 1986, a domination that is thoroughly deserved -boy that was hard to write!!! Flintoff (102) and Jones (85) put on a 177 run partnership to push England's total to a commanding 477 all out, it was their highest partnership together. At the close, Australia were reeling at 5 for 99, still 179 runs shy of avoiding the follow on.

Earlier in the day Pietersen failed to capitalise on a good batting wicket and when his wicket fell to a Lee/Gilchrist combination, momentum looked to be moving towards Australia. However another staunch partnership full of attacking strokes from Flintoff and Jones turned the game once more in England's favour. Flintoff scored his first century against England and truly deserved his century following a mature innings with a combination of defensive and attacking strokes. Jones was fortunate to survive a aught behind appeal, Bucknor making yet another mistake in the series, one that has had a massive influence over this match. Jones made the most of his reprieve and scored his fourth half century in Test cricket.

The last five wickets fell for just 59 runs and it was a case of what might have been. As it happens the total looks to be more than enough following Australia's collapse. Warne ended with figures of 4 for 102 and Tait on debut a respectable 3 for 97.

In reply Hoggard caused no end of trouble with his swing bowling as he managed to move the ball further than any bowler in the match. The blonde bowler bagged three wickets in his 11 overs and both Harmison and Jones picked up a wicket, Harmison with what proved to be the last ball of the day.

Hoggard and Simon Jones put in a stunning burst to have Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn lbw, the score had only reached 22 runs with the three wickets falling for just two runs in an 10 ball electric spell. Martyn was on the receiving end of another umpire error when replays showed he had nicked the ball on its way to hitting the pads, Dar failed to see or hear the edge and raised his finger. Langer fell to Bell fielding at silly mid-off and Clarke fell to a ball that came back from Harmison to end the day.

At 5 for 99, the game is a formality for England now and will go into a 2-1 lead ahead of the final Test at the Oval.

Day Three - Match Scorecard

Australia closed day three on 4 for 222, ironically sitting on the double Nelson. Michael Clarke and Simon Katich who shared an unbroken 61 stand were there at the close, bad light being offered to the batsmen.

Earlier in the day Gilchrist and Katich took the attack to England, Gilchrist the instigator attempted to hit Australia out of trouble. It worked for a while and the stand included 22 runs off one Hoggard over that included a massive Gilchrist six over long-on. Jones replaced Hoggard and it immediately paid dividends for Vaughan, Katich flashed at Jones' second delivery, a wide full pitched teaser and holed out to Strauss standing at point.

Jones made it two from two when Warne fell to Bell fielding in the covers. The ball had popped up off the pitch giving Bell an easy catch to send the crowd into rapture. Gilchrist fell three overs later, once again to Flintoff. He found the edge of the bat and Strauss, diving full length took an amazing catch he had no right to take!

Brett Lee wagged with two massive sixes, both out of the ground and eventually holed out to Bell at third man. Lee scored 47 runs off just 44 balls and Australia failed to avoid the first follow on since 1988 and 191 Tests. Simon Jones finished with his second five wicket haul with figures of 5 for 44.

Vaughan took command in the huddle following Australia's 218 all out and after conferring with the bowlers enforced the follow on, the first time since Pakistan enforced it at Karachi 17 years ago.

Hayden and Langer looked comfortable until Hayden fell with the score on 50, Giles taking a good sharp catch at 4th slip. Simon Jones managed just four overs and left the field with an ankle injury leaving Vaughan a bowler short for the rest of the day. Langer was the next to go after hitting his 28th Test half century, Bell taking another catch at short-leg, Giles the bowler. Bell is slowly making the fielding position his own for England.

Ponting looked good at number three but when Martyn called for a quick single, sub fielder Pratt, on for the injured Jones, made a direct hit from covers and run the Australian captain out for 48.Ponting unhappy with the way England have flaunted the laws governing the use of replacements for tired bowlers during the summer ranted at the England dressing room as he left the field. Onyl time will tell if he receives a fine for his uncharacteristic outburst.

Martyn fell six runs later, Flintoff and Jones combining to take an easy catch at the wicket. Katich and Clarke saw the final overs through despite Jones missing another easy stumping chance, his third of the series. Australia at the close are 37 runs away from making England bat again. England are still major favourites for the match.

Day Four - Match Scorecard

England predictably moved one step closer to winning the Ashes for the first time in 17 years after beating Australia with just three wickets to spare on day four of the Trent Bridge Test. Set just 129 runs to win after bowling Australia out for 387, England struggled to score the low total. Warne ( 4 for 31) and Lee (3 for 51) bowled out of their skins to provide yet another heart wrenching finale to what has fast become the best series in recent memory.

Australia batted well earlier in the day with both Katich and Clarke grounding out half centuries, both sharing in a stand of 100 before Clarke lost his concentration just before lunch edging the ball to Jones at the wicket, Hoggard the happy recipient. It was a major blow for Australia who were intent on saving the game with defensive batting at its best.

Hoggard claimed another wicket after the lunch break, Gilchrist trapped leg-before on just 11 runs. The Australian had looked in good nick and the English celebrations at capturing the wicket showed just how much they valued his wicket. As he has done throughout the series, Warne came to the party with the bat hitting three fours in one Flintoff over, a certain sign of his intent and never say never attitude.

Katich was the next to fall after a 183 ball 59, Dar contentiously agreeing with Harmison's appeal for leg-before. Katich looked on as replays at the ground showed that the ball not only pitched outside leg stump but was also too high, hitting the batsman on the knee roll. The umpires have had a dreadful series so far, both sides profiting from serious errors in judgement but somehow Australia appear to be on the receiving end far more often.

If the umpires appear to be against Australia, Geraint Jones is doing his best to level the playing field with yet another poor performance with the gloves after dropping a straightforward chance off Lee and dislodging the bails before the ball hit the stumps on a Strauss attempted run out. He is unlikely to lose his place for the Oval following the victory but questions need to be asked about his stature as England's best wicket keeper.

Pietersen is another player struggling to hold onto the ball as yet another catch went down making it six dropped catches from six attempts.Tait was clean bowled by Harmison leaving Lee stranded on 26 not out at the close.

As was expected Trescothick took the attack to Australia, England scoring 32 runs in just five overs. Warne's introduction changed the game with his very first ball, Trescothick falling to a catch at silly mid-off. Before they knew it England had lost Michael Vaughan (Hayden at slip) and Andrew Strauss (leg slip) and when Lee claimed the wicket of Bell two balls later the crowd became restless and the England balcony nervous. England found themselves 4 for 57.

Flintoff and Pietersen then settled the team with a 46 run partnership, vital in the current match situation. Lee then returned to the attack and claimed Pietersen's wicket, Gilchrist obliging at the wicket. Eight runs later Flintoff was back in the pavilion following an unplayable in-swinging delivery from Lee, still requiring 18 runs to win, Australia could sniff an unlikely victory.

Five runs later Jones threw his wicket away coming down the wicket to Warne, Kasprowicz claiming his second catch of the innings. However in a tense finish Giles and Hoggard saw England home with three wickets to spare. It was England's first wicket at Trent Bridge since 1977, the Bridge more often than not providing Australia with the Ashes winning Test in recent matches.

England now take a 2-1 lead to the Oval and require a draw to regain the Ashes for the first time since 1986/7. Flintoff was man of the match for the second time this series.

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