England close on 167/3. The late wicket of KP could prove to be a big one.

On the contrary, Mitchell Johnson and Hilfenhaus made it look easy. As did Strauss and Cook to kick us off to another good start.

As a senior player, KP's irresponsibility never ceases to amaze me. He never should be playing a shot like that with 5 overs of the days play remaining, especially after working so hard to build a good partnership with Cook. What a waste!!!

Why batsmen insist on trying to hook Johnson I don't know, it's a hard shot to play against him. Still we are in good shape, we let them get 50/60 too many but if we can get a lead of around 100 then we will be in a good position.

Why batsmen try to hook full stop with a man waiting for a dolly amazes me.
It's asking for it.
I don't mind square pulls, but once the ball is over shoulder height, flailing about up there is too much like rounders.
Some of them can't resist it though.

We need to bat as long as possible now. If we bat all day and only score 250 it will put immense pressure on the aussies.

All of the bowling at Johnson and Hilfenhaus was terrible. Legside, short, all over the place, when decent, at the stumps bowling with the movement they were getting would have been perfect.

It's always been a failing of England's

Big first session tomorrow now. With Anderson in as nightwatchman we're likedly to lose another wicket within half an hour, and Bell will be coming in too low at 7 again.

One more decent partnership is the minimum requirement; that would ensure a first innings lead. Ideally I'd like us to be 100+ ahead on first innings. With Collingwood possibly on the verge of losing his place for good it would be typical if he came to the party at this point and made a decisive contribution.

Hope so, doubts over his place usually do the trick, was made up for him to get such a big wicket 'yesterday', good honest wholehearted pro.

I'm amazed at the fickleness and short memories of some England fans - reading some of the comments on the BBC Sport blogs about how yesterday's bowling at the tail was "typical England" and "a disgrace" made me laugh out loud.

Johnson and Hilfenhaus took some chances and in the most part they all came off, can happen to any tail ender on their day. They could just as easily have holed out trying to slog the bowling out of the ground and had them all out for 220.

Sachin Tendulkar hits century no 51.