Fifth test, fourth day, second session

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Over-by-over coverage. England are pressing the advantage home in Sydney, with an awesome display of batting from Michael Vaughan. Enjoy it all here.......

England 1st innings: 362 all out (127 overs) Australia 1st innings: 363 all out (80 overs)

England 2nd innings, 113th over: 386-7 (Stewart 10, Caddick 1)

I'm getting stick for besmirching Alec Stewart's good name, with some of you arguing that he wouldn't be aware of the intricacies of his average. Believe me he would. He's the kind of guy, as a colleague once said, that keeps a pair of gloves in his glove box. Which is the only explnation I can think of for another maiden, taking us to tea.

England 2nd innings, 110th over: 382-7 (Stewart 10, Caddick 1)

A MacGill maiden. At this stage of the game - would you credit it?

England 2nd innings, 109th over: 382-7 (Stewart 10, Caddick 1)

Ben Mellor points out that Vaughan won't be bowling, on account of his dodgy shoulder. That's the sort of thing I should have spotted, but it's getting late. On a more controversial note, Winston Chow asks 'What is Mike Atkinson (the Mancunian who castigated Vaughan for not scoring a double century) on? Is he miffed at the Lancastrian Vaughan playing for Yorkshire?

I wish I had more exciting action to relate, but alas England are still being cagey. Stewart's moved on to ten though, so that should change soon.

England 2nd innings, 108th over: 379-7 (Stewart 8, Caddick 0)

I think I've nailed the reason as to why Stewart is being so conservative. He needs 11 to secure a career average of 40, and realise one of his ambitions. Expect him to fling the bat when he's notched three more runs. I'm getting the vibe from several of you, including no less a figure than Giovani J. C. da Silveira, that England should declare now.

England 2nd innings, 107th over: 379-7 (Stewart 8, Caddick 0)

A bit more action from England, as Bichel strays down leg-side, but Bichel turns the tables to straighten Dawson up and draw a leading edge as the Batsmen looks to plunder more from the on-side. Dawson goes, caught and bowled for 13 and surely Stewart will attack now. If he does't, I'm sure Caddick will....

England 2nd innings, 106th over: 371-6 (Stewart 5, Dawson 11)

England have now reached the stage where the Aussies would need to knock almost 100 more than any side has ever done to win a match at the SCG, and the 3rd highest total any side has ever achieved, anywhere, to win a Test. So why no throwing of the bat?

England 2nd innings, 105th over: 369-6 (Stewart 4, Dawson 10)

Fazal reckons that unless Hayden knocks an incredible 150 to win the 5th test, Vaughan is the man of the series. The stats back him up, with Vaughan having notched 641 runs to Hayden's 494, though of course, Hayden's played in three innings less. Not much happening in the middle, which suggests a declaration is noit imminent. Stewart's been in almost an hour for four.

England 2nd innings, 104th over: 369-6 (Stewart 4, Dawson 10)

Dawson's looking to get on with it, and takes a quick single off Bichel, to the substitute Aussie fielder, Brad Hogg.

England 2nd innings, 103rd over: 368-6 (Stewart 4, Dawson 9)

A dull over from MacGill, though to be fair, this is England's fault. Is there's any bowler they should be going after to rack up the runs, it's this guy.

England 2nd innings, 102nd over: 367-6 (Stewart 4, Dawson 9)

Gillespie's finally packed up, with what is desrcibed as a tennis elbow injury. I rest my case on the 'Goran Ivanesevic in disguise' theory. Bichel completes the over, and has Dawson turned around for a fortunate leg-bye.

England 2nd innings, 101st over: 365-6 (Stewart 3, Dawson 8)

MacGill's back, and Dawson leans into one, to bring up 100 runs conceded by 'Killer' in each of his four innings this series. Has ever a nickname been so ill-thought?

Anything less than a win for England is not good enough. The words of Mike Atkinson, in Manchester, not mine. 'We need Stewart to fling it about and make a quick 40 or so, get them in and see what happens.' Stewart has already done enough for Fazal Shere, in West Virginia, who says the England veteran has had a decent series with bat and gloves. 'A 38 average in a 4-0 losing series isn't exactly a nightmare,' he argues. 'So why are people calling for his head?' Well, it seems that Mike is a demanding chap, and has the audacity to 'doubt the ability of Vaughan to make a double hundred when it's needed, as it was today.' I have Mike's home address and phone number from his email, if anyone wants to take issue with this...

England 2nd innings, 100th over: 360-6 (Stewart 3, Dawson 3)

The only good thing about these wickets falling is that it will give the England bowlers hope. Dawson gets off the mark, but his contribution to this game must come with the ball if England are to prosper Imran gives Dawson's figures from the first innings (16 0 72 0) to put into perspective his chances of being the man responsible for a possible England win. 'If McGill can do nothing on a fourth day Sydney wicket then I doubt Dawson can do much better,' he says. Ben Haley would prefer Vaughan to have a go, with the pitch deteriorating. 'Remember his dismissals of Tendulkar in the summer.' he says. Is there anything 'The Stud' can't do?

England 2nd innings, 96th over: 356-6 (Stewart 2, Dawson 0)

Oh dear. The recalled Gillespie traps Crawley infront with one that stays low, and this time umpire Tiffin is spot on with his LBW decision, though he takes an age to give it. Creeper goes for eight, the England tail is exposed, and this match is about to get interesting again.

Rune Haahr Petersen, in Denmark, enquires as to how Creeper Crawley acquired his 'awful' nickname. Something to do with his speed of play, I believe, though he was showing signs of shedding his inhibitions here, pulling Gillespie over the infield for a welcome boundary. Rune also claims that 'for England to settle for a draw now (as your defeatist ex-pat in Sweden from earlier would have them) would surely be more than a little underambitious, even for England.' A fair point, but they may not have the chance to settle for anything, soon. So do you have a problem with inhabitants of Sweden, Rune the Dane?

England 2nd innings, 95th over: 352-5 (Crawley 4, Stewart 2)

Imran Ahmed, in the US, argues that England should declare now, as he sees 'little good in having Creeper and Rip Van Stewart out there for much longer.' The pair continue to pick off quick singles, and are probably enjoying running up and down the pitch, scuffinng it up for the Aussie batsmen. A declaration doesn't seem imminent, with Nasser looking on thoughtfully...

England 2nd innings, 94th over: 349-5 (Crawley 2, Stewart 1)

England are showing signs of wanting to keep things moving, nicking a couple of quick singles.

England 2nd innings, 93rd over: 347-5 (Crawley 1, Stewart 1)

Those two wickets have slowed the pace, just when England could do with pressing on. They'll want to get Australia in after tea, but probably need another 50 runs to be ultra-secure. Jon, a Brit in Calgary, thinks they should fling the bat, and takes issue with the cautious David, arguing that 'England should go for the win and if they lose an exciting game, well that's sport!'

England 2nd innings, 92nd over: 346-5 (Crawley 0, Stewart 1)

All rise for the end of a great innings. After a dodgy spell, Vaughan finally succumbs, going LBW to one that nipped back from Bichel, but could well have been going down leg and was almost certainlky going over the top. It's good enough for umpire Tiffin though, and the England hero gives him a wry look as he marches off to a standing ovation, having scored 183 superb runs. Suddenly, though, England have two new batsmen at the crease, and Crawley nudges an unconvincing edge into the ground just infront of gulley.

England 2nd innings, 91st over: 345-4 (Vaughan 183, Crawley 0)

Vaughan is starting to look human, but is benefiting from his earlier good work. A couple of uppish shots find vacant areas of the field where earlier there would have been hungry fielders to gobble them up. Key is not so privileged, however, and catches a pull high on the bat, picking out Hayden at square leg and giving Lee reward for a persistent, and spirited spell. Key goes for 14, bringing Crawley to the crease. With England needing a few more runs before they think of putting the Aussies in, will Creeper play any more expansively than in his first innings?

England 2nd innings, 90th over: 340-3 (Vaughan 178, Key 14)

The Barmy Army is in good voice, and with good reason, as Vaughan eases another one past Bichel for three more.

England 2nd innings, 89th over: 336-3 (Vaughan 175, Key 13)

A short one from Lee is cut, deliberately, over the keeper's head by Vaughan. Lee finds an edge off Key, but the 'well-built' Kent man angles his bat down to ensure it doesn't carry to the waiting slips.

England 2nd innings, 88th over: 330-3 (Vaughan 170, Key 13)

Bichel straightens Key up and raps him on the pad, but the ball's going down leg. Or at least that's what the umpire thinks, and who am I to argue? Key finds the middle of the bat with an easier leg-side delivery to clip it through mid-wicket, and past the ailing Gillespie for four. Dizzy is the only fielder on the leg side, but is in such a poor state that if the England batsmen can target him, there shoud be runs galore.

England 2nd innings, 87th over: 324-3 (Vaughan 170, Key 7)

Key starts to get his feel, and finds a few gaps in the infield. Lee send down a vicious bouncer at Vaughan, who laughs it off to share a few pleasantries with the New South Wales paceman.

England 2nd innings, 86th over: 319-3 (Vaughan 169, Key 3)

Key gets a working over from Bichel, but proves resilient in defense, with several solid defensive blocks, before a firmer prod escapes mid-off and gets him off the mark. If England can see out this tricky new ball spell after lunch, they can afford to press on and start swinging the bat again late in the afternoon to rack up a big lead.

England 2nd innings, 85th over: 316-3 (Vaughan 169, Key 0)

This ball is moving around a great deal on this pitch and while it's giving the previously untroubled Vaughan one or two problems, with the great man playing and missing Lee three times, this must be good news for England. If Vaughan, on 169, is having trouble, what will new batsmen, chasing 400, make of the pitch as it deteriorates further?

England 2nd innings, 84th over: 316-3 (Vaughan 169, Key 0)

This new ball's moving around, and even the sublime Vaughan plays and misses a lively one from Bichel. He still manages to clip him through the on-side for two more runs, though, followed by an easy single to third man.

The ever attentive David, in Sweden, argues the point for England shouldn't be about winning but rather not losing, thereby denying Waugh's warriors the whitewash. 'They should bat until Australia have no chance of winning, no matter what, he says. 'A draw is infinitely preferable to an exciting losing climax.' I'm impressed by your dedication to the cause, David, it must be four in the morning in Sweden right now. Mind you, when it's dark for 20 hours a day, I guess the time doesn't matter........

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