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Starting day four on 50-2, still 269 runs behind, England must bat until deep into Tuesday to salvage a draw.

It seemed an unlikely prospect, given that they had effectively sacrificed a batsman when bringing back Andrew Flintoff after the drawn first Test.

Makhaya Ntini, who took both wickets on Sunday, could be the main threat again.

LATEST ACTION (ALL TIMES BST)

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Ben Dirs' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)

By Ben Dirs

ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS

1100: That's a jaffer from Ntini, the ball launching off a length and leaving Anderson to prod tentatively at the ball. Ntini decides to have a go from round the wicket in an attempt to make Anderson play at the ball. Decent yorker from Ntini, he's making Anderson look like Mr Magoo in this first over. But the Lancashire paceman survives, job dones as far as he's concerned.

1057: Here's Jerusalem! Let's all have a sing-song! We may as well, England are probably going to get slapped all over the Headingley turf today. Here come the players, it's Anderson the nightwatchman to face the first ball from Ntini, who seems to have found some form from somewhere.

"England had a poor first innings and have been under pressure in this match ever since. Write this match off and start again next Test." Kapnag on 606

"Call me a pessimist, but I can't help feeling it could be a very short day at the office for you, Mr Dirs. Still, at least the selectors' dropping of Collingwood (70-odd not out for Durham yesterday), and subsequent promotion of Ambrose to six hasn't completely back-fired. OK, you can call me a pessimist if you want."
Dan, North Yorks, in the TMS inbox

1052: My co-commentator Mark Mitchener apparently intimated that I might bring England luck today. He forgets that I covered England in Australia two winters ago and last year's World Cup. As far as England are concerned, I'm about as lucky as a dark alley strewn with dog mess.

"It's a colossal task, but can England do it?" says TMS's Henry Blofeld. "I doubt it," replies a brutally honest Vic Marks.

1045: One thing is for certain, England's selectors are going to lock themselves in a dark room and have a big think about the make-up of their side for the rest of this series and beyond. They are carrying too many passengers in my opinion, with half their batting order unable to buy a run, and this Pattinson chap doesn't look much cop to me. The good news for England's batters is that it's a peachy looking day up in Leeds, so they've got no excuses there.

"I think Vaughan's all over the place, especially with his feet. His confidence is very, very low and he's all over the place at the crease."
Former England batsman David Lloyd (nicked off of Sky... sorry, TMS hasn't started yet...)

1040: All right? Not going very well for England, is it? The home side are 50-2 in their second innings and still 269 runs behind, they've got a serious task on their hands even to survive the day. Pietersen won't be cowed, he's the sort of man who would attack a couple of tooled-up burglars in the buff with only a badminton racquet as a weapon.

(BBC)

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