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Relive a fascinating second day's play between England and Australia in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Australia finish on 249 for one, and the realisation hits England that taking 20 wickets in this Test will not be an easy task at all! Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting both reach their centuries after the loss of Phil Hughes for 36. Thanks for joining us today!

71 Australia 249-1 (Flintoff 0-1-1-0-2-0): Flintoff bowls the final over the day, with Ponting remaining on 99 with the pressure being put on him by Andrew Strauss with a tight field in place. Anderson almost runs out Katich at mid on with a sharp throw as he backs up a long way, but Ponting pushes a single into the off side for his 38th Test hundred! England applaud the Australia captain's effort, and both batsmen can sleep peacefully.

70 Australia 245-1 (Swann 1-0-1-0-0-0): Katich plays out the over, with Swann completing yet another economical over without much intention to attack as we near the end of the day's play. Who can blame him? He consolidates his century.

69 Australia 243-1 (Flintoff 1-0-4-1-1-2): Flintoff has both batsmen on the brink of their 100s as he thunders in to bowl his latest over. Simon Katich is the first to move to his eighth Test century, and he acknowledges the balcony after beating his captain to the landmark. Earlier in the over, Ponting punched a low full toss through the covers for four to move to 98.

68 Australia 236-1 (Anderson 0-1-0-1-1-4): Anderson puts everything into every ball, but you have to feel for paceman, whose potency has been severely blunted by a distinct lack of swing today. Katich plays an uppish drive over extra cover for four, and moves to 98.

67 Australia 229-1 (Flintoff 0-0-1-0-1-1): Flintoff continues to apply the pressure on the batsmen from over the wicket this time, and Ponting scrambles a quick single once more. Peter Siddle is lined up as a nightwatchman, so it is not only England who are prepared to use that outdated and frankly counter-productive tactic.

66 Australia 226-1 (Anderson 0-2-0-1-1-1): Katich works a leg-side delivery from Anderson off his pads for two runs behind square, and he and Ponting exchange the strike as they both close in on their centuries.

65 Australia 221-1 (Flintoff 0-0-0-0-0-0): Sharp fielding from Bopara at short extra cover makes him scamper back into his ground, with Ponting eager to get to the other end. Flintoff restricts the Australian captain's room outside his off stump, and it is a maiden.

64 Australia 221-1 (Anderson 1-2-0-0-0-0): Anderson bustles in and completes a steady over, with Katich playing it out with no real issues after Ponting had taken a brisk two then moved to the non-striker's end. Freddie is back on next!

63 Australia 218-1 (Panesar 0-1-1-1-0-0): Pietersen breaks the stumps with a fine throw from cover but, despite huge over-caution from Billy Doctrove, the third umpire gives Ponting easily in. The remainder of the over passes without further drama, and Australia move serenely to 218 for one.

62 Australia 215-1 (Anderson 2-0-4-1-0-0): Ponting opens the face to an Anderson delivery, and it runs away for two past gully, and a little tickle down the leg side brings the Australia captain four more. Katich and Ponting both move to 85.

61 Australia 208-1 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0): Panesar completes another maiden, and the Australia run rate continues to drop well below four. The spinner found a good length and that was the key there, varying his flight.

60 Australia 208-1 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0): Anderson comes back into the attack from the Cathedral Road End, and is right on the spot from the outset, with Ponting playing out a maiden in an attritional manner.

59 Australia 208-1 (Swann 2-0-3-0-0-0): Swann tosses the ball up to Ponting, who runs three after nurdling the ball down into the vacant third man area. The batsmen are approaching the 150 partnership, as Swann ends the over with a beautifully flighted delivery.

58 Australia 203-1 (Panesar 0-0-3-2-0-0): The pitch must be incredibly dry and dead, with Australia passing 200 for the loss of just one wicket. England must seize control through their spinners. All you can say is, Andrew Strauss will be incredibly relieved his side are bowling second.

57 Australia 198-1 (Swann 1-0-0-0-0-0): Swann receives great encouragement from his team mates as he puts more and more flight on his deliveries outside Katich's off stump. The batsman refuses to be drawn into any shots however, and another over passes meekly.

56 Australia 197-1 (Panesar 0-1-1-0-0-1): Panesar rattles through the first over after drinks, and Katich plays him without taking any risks. It would be an understatement to say that this passage of play is slightly tedious, but England must take a wicket.

55 Australia 194-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-1): Swann continues to come around the wicket, bowling wide of the crease and looping the ball up to Katich, who simply plays the ball back with such ease it is pretty disheartening for the spinner. The drinks come on to the field, and England need to regroup.

54 Australia 194-1 (Panesar 0-1-1-0-1-0): Katich looks very controlled as he moves past 80, and the opener is just ticking along very steadily, as England hope that Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss will in their second innings. Panesar is not looking overly threatening either.

53 Australia 191-1 (Swann 0-1-0-0-4-0): Swann is attacked by Ponting and Katich as England become increasingly frustrated and despondent. Australia move to 191-1, and Katich is on 77 while Ponting has 69 to his name.

52 Australia 186-1 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0): Panesar is brought back on from the River Taff End, and he settles very quickly, bowling a full and straight line to Ponting, and it is a maiden. What do you think of Panesar's role in this side? If he is going to bat at 11 surely he has to bowl more.

51 Australia 186-1 (Swann 0-0-0-1-1-3): Swann bowls a straighter line to Ponting from around the wicket, and the spinner is struggling to get the ball to turn sufficiently with the batsmen using their feet and not allowing the ball enough time to spin.

50 Australia 181-1 (Flintoff 0-3-0-0-0-4): Flintoff has a long meeting with Strauss at the top of his run up before he begins his latest over. The atmosphere is pretty subdued as a result of this partnership, and Ponting whips the ball away for three runs off his pads. Katich bizarrely turns down a blatant single, but makes amends by lashing a sumptuous cover drive for four.

49 Australia 174-1 (Swann 0-4-0-0-0-0): Swann and Flintoff are keeping the runs down very effectively bowling in tandem, but wickets are what Andrew Strauss so desperately craves. Swann is carted away for one boundary, with Katich pouncing on a full toss to bring up his career-best score against England.

48 Australia 170-1 (Flintoff 2-1-0-0-0-0): Flintoff pounds in from the Cathedral Road End, but has lost the edge he had in his first spell immediately after lunch, with Ponting content to pat the ball back to the allrounder. England's bowling attack is being made to look pretty average now. Do they miss Harmison? Do they miss Onions?

47 Australia 167-1 (Swann 0-0-4-0-0-0): Swann is punished for a full toss, with Ponting hammering it away for four with absolute disdain. The Australia captain is looking utterly composed out there, and Swann cannot do anything to unsettle him anymore.

46 Australia 163-1 (Flintoff 1-1-0-1-0-0): Flintoff storms in once more, while Stuart Broad leaves the field slightly gingerly, with Graham Onions replacing him. Flintoff does not manage to apply too much pressure in that over.

45 Australia 160-1 (Swann 0-0-4-2-0-0): Swann mixes his length very well, delivering a good quicker ball to Ponting, who takes a single despite being taken aback by it. The 100 partnership comes up off 179 balls, and this pair have given Australia a very solid platform.

44 Australia 154-1 (Flintoff 0-1-0-1-0-0): Andrew Flintoff comes on at the Cathedral Road End after swapping from the River Taff, and he begins with a ball down the leg side which is taken well by Prior. The crowd urge Flintoff on, but to no avail just yet.

43 Australia 152-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Graeme Swann is brought into the attack, and immediately has a huge appeal for lbw as Katich is trapped in front, and replays suggest he should have probably been given. England are crestfallen after requiring that wicket desperately.

42 Australia 152-1 (Broad 2-0-0-4-0-0): Stuart Broad is attacked by Ponting, who moves to his 50 off 70 balls. The Australian captain drives Broad's first delivery for two, then an uppish square drive brings him four.

41 Australia 146-1 (Flintoff 0-0-3-0-0-1): The big man is back on! It was the surely the only way Andrew Strauss could go, and he turns to the big allrounder. His third delivery is flashed through the covers for three runs by Katich, and Ponting takes a nonchalant single off the final ball.

40 Australia 142-1 (Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0): Stuart Broad, with an average speed of 89mph resumes after tea, and he gets some terrific bounce to trouble Ponting, with a delivery which rears off a length and strikes the batsman in the chest. Andrew Flintoff was warming up vigorously throughout that over, so he should be on next.

- What do you think England's approach should be after tea? Andrew Flintoff must surely open from the River Taff End after the interval, with Graeme Swann alongside him. Do you agree with that? Post your comments below.

- That is the end of the afternoon's session, and it has been Australia's with the exception of Andrew Flintoff's superb spell straight after lunch, taking the wicket of Phil Hughes. Since then, Australia have consolidated brilliantly, with Katich and Ponting adding 82 for the second wicket.

39 Australia 142-1 (Swann 1-0-0-4-0-0): Simon Katich brings up his 15th Test match fifty with a fine drive through mid on for four off the bowling of Swann, and Australia move to 142-1 and are looking very comfortable with this second-wicket partnerhip.

38 Australia 137-1 (Broad 0-1-4-0-0-4): Katich moves on to the back foot sharply and crashes a short-pitched delivery from Broad behind point for four as the seamer struggles to stifle the opener from freeing his arms. A thick edge from Katich then beats gully for a second boundary. England need a wicket very badly now!

37 Australia 128-1 (Panesar 1-0-1-0-0-0): A huge appeal goes up from Monty Panesar, and this time it is worth a shout. Katich pushes forward with his bat and pad, but as Cook takes a catch at short leg, it is considered by Billy Doctrove to have not connected with the edge.

36 Australia 126-1 (Broad 0-0-0-0-2-0): Stuart Broad is brought on to bowl in an attempt by Andrew Strauss to inject some pace and bounce into England's attack. The first ball he delivers keeps incredibly low and somehow evades both Ponting's pad and bat. Ponting becomes the fourth man in the history of cricket to reach 11001 runs, joining Allan Border, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar with the highest average of all of them: 56.42.

35 Australia 124-1 (Panesar 1-0-1-1-0-0): Panesar is swept by Ponting for the third single of the over as he and Katich look to rotate the strike at every opportunity, with England's field placings becoming increasingly dispersed around the outfield.

34 Australia 121-1 (Swann 0-1-1-0-0-0): Swann is finding good consistency, but is not causing undue trouble to this Australian pair, who look incredibly settled and relaxed out in the middle. They look prepared to bat all day, and who is to predict that they will not do just that?

33 Australia 119-1 (Panesar lb-2-0-1-0-0): Panesar is averaging two big appeals an over, but he is yet to have a single one that has come close to consideration for umpire Billy Doctrove. Ricky Ponting looks very composed in the face of the spinner's excitement, and remains on 36.

32 Australia 115-1 (Swann 2-1-2-0-0-0): Swann is bowling absolutely superbly to Katich, and he gets two deliveries to turn and leap off a length and finish beating the outside edge of the opener's bat. Panesar must sustain the pressure from the other end, with Strauss not setting a particularly attacking field.

31 Australia 110-1 (Panesar 4-1-0-0-0-0): Monty Panesar bowls a sloppy first delivery to Ponting, who comfortably sweeps behind square leg for four, but he ends the over well, finding a good line on off stump to Katich.

30 Australia 105-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): This is just getting tedious! Swann races through another maiden, and it seems as though conceding runs has gone out of fashion! The Notts spinner is finding pinpoint accuracy, but not enough purchase to trouble Ponting or Katich.

29 Australia 105-1 (Panesar 1-1-1-0-0-1): Monty Panesar is into the attack for the first time, and demonstrates his usual exuberance in appealing for an lbw claim which was nowhere near striking Katich in front. It is a decent start from the left-arm spinner.

28 Australia 101-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann is bowling with metronomic precision, and Katich simply cannot get him away. The spinner rattles through another maiden, but England will be desperate for him to get a few wickets, with Monty Panesar warming up vigorously.

27 Australia 101-1 (Anderson 1-2-0-0-2-0): Prior shouts to Flintoff to get himself loose: I'm pretty sure that is Andrew Strauss's job to prompt bowling changes, but maybe England wicket-keeper is just toying with the Australian batsmen on that one. Five runs come off the over, and Anderson is being played comfortably now.

26 Australia 96-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann is bowling an immaculate line to Ponting, drifting the ball into his pads and tempting the Australia captain to hit him down the ground. Ponting resists to take on the lofted straight drive, and it is yet another maiden from Swann. Here's a photo of Vaughan, who's at it again today

25 Australia 96-1 (Anderson 1-0-0-0-2-0): Ponting is quickly off strike with a nurdle into the leg side, but Anderson seems to prefer bowling at the left-handed Katich. The opener takes a sharp two, driving into a gap in the off side, and Anderson is frustrated that the pressure he was creating is broken.

24 Australia 93-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann continues to rattle through his overs at an incredibly brisk rate, and the spinner looks to be blowing hard as he receives his cap from umpire Aleem Dar. It is another maiden over from Swann, who is settling very well from the River Taff End.

23 Australia 93-1 (Anderson 0-0-0-2-0-4): Ponting hammer a four off the final ball of Anderson's over, and the seamer was just settling into a good line and length before his final delivery was savagely dispatched.

22 Australia 87-1 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann comes into the attack after having a couple of quick over prior to the lunch break, and the spinner is immediately on the button, bowling a maiden with real consistency. Katich refuses to take any risks, and stoically pats the ball back to Swann.

21 Australia 87-1 (Anderson 1-0-0-3-0-1): Anderson returns as Flintoff takes a breather, and an exquisite cover drive from Ponting lacks nothing but a touch more power, with Swann able to haul the ball back in. With the exception of the three runs conceded, it is a good returning over from Jimmy.

20 Australia 82-1 (Broad 0-4-0-1-1-0): Ponting flashes a fine pull shot through midwicket for four as Broad digs a short ball into the pitch, and you cannot bowl there to Ponting. Nor on his legs, as Ponting clips the seamer away for more runs into the on side.

19 Australia 76-1 (Flintoff 0-2-0-0-0-4): Flintoff fires his first delivery down the leg side and Prior makes a superb take, diving full-stretch, low to his right. Katich drives through extra cover off the second delivery, picking up two runs, but Flintoff bowls an absolute Jaffa to the opener, getting the ball to nip away from the bat at the final moment. Katich is clearly undettered, and plays an immaculate on drive for four off the final delivery.

18 Australia 70-1 (Broad 0-1-0-0-1-4): Stuart Broad is finding very good areas to Ricky Ponting, and the Australia captain is refusing to be drawn into a loose shot outside his off stump. Broad over-pitches on one occasion and Ponting drives through extra cover and picks up four runs after Panesar is slow to retrieve.

17 Australia 64-1 (Flintoff 0-0-0-nb-0-0-0): Flintoff is incredibly fired up as he gets a short-pitched delivery to rear up at Katich, and he fends it into his groin. Ponting is at the non-striker's end, but it is obvious as Flintoff exchanges words with him, that he is dying to bowl at the Aussie captain! It is another very fine over from Flintoff, with just one extra coming off it.

16 Australia 63-1 (Broad 0-0-0-2-1-0): The crowd are buoyant at the Swalec Stadium following Flintoff's wicket, and a huge roar goes up as Broad and Prior appeal vehemently after Katich had been rapped on the pads, but umpire Aleem Dar shakes his head. Another big appeal goes up as Ponting pads up, but it was well outside the line of off stump.

15 Australia 60-1 (Flintoff 0-0-4-1-0-W): WICKET! Flintoff strikes, and it is Hughes who is dismissed for 36, nicking behind to Matt Prior who takes a sharp diving catch to his right! Earlier in the over Hughes carved another boundary despite Flintoff dominating him on the most part, freeing his arms and lashing a cut shot behind point. What a crucial breakthrough for England!

14 Australia 55-0 (Broad 0-1-4-1-3-0): Broad locates Katich's outside edge, but the batsman manages to guide it with soft hands through the slips for four. Hughes is backing away to the leg side with discomfort as Broad adopts Flintoff's aggressive approach. Another three come from a flick through midwicket by Katich.

13 Australia 46-0 (Flintoff 0-0-0-0-0-0): Flintoff drops a catch off his own bowling! Hughes is contentedly enjoying solace at the non-striker's end as Flintoff roars in at the River Taff End, and he forces Katich into driving the ball uppishly back at him, but in stooping down low to his right, he puts the chance down. Fred is very fired up, and looks gutted after missing that opportunity.

12 Australia 46-0 (Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0): Stuart Broad gets a vicious ball to jag back at Hughes and rap him on the pads, but the batsman survives unscathed. Just one run comes off the over, and the bowler is growing in confidence as his accuracy improves considerably since lunch.

11 Australia 45-0 (Flintoff 0-1-1-1-1-0): Katich flicks a leg-side delivery off his hip down to fine leg, and Hughes is eager to take a quick single and get himself off strike. Flintoff bowls the fastest ball of the match so far to Katich, at 93.3mph, but the batsman is able to leave it.

10 Australia 41-0 (Broad 0-0-0-0-2-0): Now, can Broad match Flintoff's high standards in his first over after lunch? He immediately comes around the wicket to Katich, and finds a very good angle, zipping the ball into the left-hander with good precision. Katich scrambles two quick runs off the penultimate ball, but that was a good start from Broad.

9 Australia 39-0 (Flintoff 0-0-0-0-0-0): After negotiating the tricky little half-hour period before lunch, ending on 39 without loss, Australia will be looking to kick on. Flintoff opens after lunch and begins with three bouncers and an abundance of sledging! He almost locates Hughes's edge with a 91mph delivery, and that is a great first over from Fred! /// Jonathan G, this is clearly why Strauss was saving him for a burst after lunch.

- Phillip Hughes looks pretty ominous already, and the opener is already 28 not out, with Simon Katich only on six. What do you make of the start of the Australia innings? It has to be said, Stuart Broad and James Anderson did not look threatening at all.

- That is the end of the morning session, and the players leave the field for the lunch break. Australia have negotiated that tricky little half-hour period well before lunch, ending on 39 without loss in response to England's total of 435 all out.

8 Australia 39-0 (Swann 0-0-0-0-1-0): Swann continues to bowl with a very aggressive field backing him up. Just a single comes off the over, and the spinner is finding some good purchase off the wicket, and is just settling into his rhythm. It was good that Andrew Strauss gave his spinner a few overs to bed him in before the afternoon session.

7 Australia 38-0 (Anderson 4-1-0-0-0-0): Hughes's wagonwheel suggests that he plays more shots through the off side than even Ramnaresh Sarwan, and he punches a drive through the covers for another boundary. Anderson is finding a good line to Katich, tucking him up around middle and leg stump, but England have yet to trouble Australia's openers.

6 Australia 33-0 (Swann 0-0-0-0-2-2): Graeme Swann is into the attack already, and joins four dots together before Simon Katich manages to nurdle/edge (it was hard to tell) a hard-spinning delivery past first slip for two. That was a very promising opening over from the off spinner.

5 Australia 29-0 (Anderson 0-0-1-2-0-0): Following the early mayhem, Anderson settles into a better line and length to Hughes, and finds a tighter grouping of deliveries. /// Flaw-drummer believes that Harmison is too expensive and unreliable, which is a fair shout. What do others think? Graeme Swann looks to be warming up vigorously already!

4 Australia 26-0 (Broad 0-0-0-4-0-0): Stuart Broad is again punished for dropping his length short by Hughes, who thumps a square cut through point for four. The opener is already on 20, and is looking very aggressive. Incidentally, Broad hits 93mph with his final delivery, but it is directed down the leg side.

3 Australia 22-0 (Anderson 0-1-2-0-0-wd-1): The ball is swinging profusely, but Hughes looks pretty comfortable after his early adrenaline-fuelled fidgeting. Anderson digs two deliveries in short, to both Katich and Hughes, as England look to pepper the openers as Harmison did for the Lions. /// Why brings us neatly on to the debate: should Steve Harmison be in this bowling attack, and where do you fit him in?

2 Australia 17-0 (Broad 2-4-4-0-0-0): Stuart Broad begins from the River Taff End, and Phillip Hughes is going along at a fair rate of knots now. The diminutive left-hander lashes a square cut wide of second gully for four, and he then drives off the back foot through the covers for another. Katich is still yet to face a ball!

1 Australia 7-0 (Anderson 0-0-0-4lb-0-3): James Anderson bowls to Phil Hughes, and he immediately gets a ball to jag back and rap the opener on the pads, but umpire Aleem Dar is not convinced. Hughes looks slightly apprehensive to start, but Australia get off the mark when Anderson strays down the leg side for four leg byes. Hughes ends the over with three runs driven through the covers to settle himself down.

12:20 England's first innings comes to an end for 435, and that is a very decent score, especially considering that Andrew Strauss would have taken 400 at 11:00 this morning! Where do you all think this leaves the match balance? Graeme Swann was left unbeaten on 47, and relished the opportunity to wave his bat around exuberantly as he approached the pavilion!

107 England 435 all out! (Hauritz 2-0-0-0-0-W): Nathan Hauritz and Australia's miserable morning is compounded by a no ball denying them the wicket of Graeme Swann, who launched a drive straight up to Marcus North on the cover boundary. However, Monty Panesar is finally dismissed to cruelly deny Swann is half-century, edging straight to Ponting at second slip! What a superb tail-wagging session from England!

106 England 433-9 (Johnson lb-1-0-0-0-0): Johnson has Monty in all sorts of trouble, but the number 11 survives: just! A fast inswinging yorker is dug out by Panesar in the nick of time, and a drive which loops up tamely falls just short of Mike Hussey, who was charging in from short mid-wicket.

105 England 431-9 (Hauritz 1-0-0-0-0-1): Hauritz looks on in horror as Monty miscues a strange shot (I don't really know how to describe what he was attempting) over the slips, and he picks up a single for it. England are hanging on a bit now, but Swann needs to get the strike back quickly!

104 England 429-9 (Hilfenhaus 3-2-0-1-0-0): Monty gets off the mark with a crisp three into the leg side, and it prompts a huge roar from the England supporters! Hilfenhaus bowls two very testing yorkers, but Swann does well to dig them out on both occasions. /// Don't be hard on yourself Terri-Ann, very few people predicted that England's tail would wag this hard!

103 England 423-9 (Hauritz 1-1-0-W-0-1): Anderson is finally dismissed, but he has done more than what was expected from him. The nightwatchman catches a straight drive horribly on the toe of his bat, and it loops straight up to Mike Hussey with a nasty thud. Monty Panesar joins Swann, and that gives the Notts spinner further licence to have a swipe!

102 England 420-8 (Hilfenhaus 1-0-4-lb-0-0): Another four is bludgeoned by Swann down the ground, and it is a one-bounce strike as well - nearly a six! Swann moves serenely on to 40, and is absolutely flying! This is no laughing matter for Australia! /// Still finding this boring Phill?!

101 England 414-8 (Hauritz 2-1-4-1-0-2): Hauritz does continue, and the spinner restores some pride with a tight over, but he is still not looking threatening, despite the pitch. Swann and Anderson caress the ball around for ones and twos with consummate ease. A strange mis-guided sweep from Anderson brings four more! /// In response to Aitch's question, a nurdle is a controlled push or manoeuvring of the ball in the intended direction. A naff-nurdle is what Alastair Cook played yesterday!

100 England 404-8 (Hilfenhaus 0-1-0-0-1-0): Hilfenhaus returns some sanity to proceedings with a tidy over of outswing, and Graeme Swann has incredibly moved to 31 off 23 balls after plundering runs off Hauritz in the previous over! England are looking good! Will Hauritz continue?

99 England 402-8 (Hauritz 4b-0-0-4-4-4): Hauritz is into the attack, and his first delivery spins prodigiously, with Swann even more delighted than the bowler to see the turn available! Four boundaries come off the over, with four byes followed by Swann really cutting loose! The third boundary from the spinner was the icing on the cake: an audacious reverse sweep for four - extraordinary stuff from Swann!

98 England 386-8 (Hilfenhaus 0-0-1-0-1-0): Ben Hilfenhaus comes into the bowling attack, with Ricky Ponting clearly getting pretty agitated with Swann and Anderson's rearguard! /// Kestephenson is questioning whether it is time for England to drop Kevin Pietersen: well, my opinion is most certainly no! What do others think? He does play stupid shots at times, but so is Swann right now, and everyone is loving every minute of it: great entertainment!

97 England 384-8 (Siddle 3-0-0-3-2-0): A glorious cover drive from Swann continues the tail-enders' assault on the Australian seamers! Another cover drive from Anderson follows, and although it doesn't go all the way, does enough to prompt some concerned sledging from Siddle! Swann is in Twenty20 mode by the looks of things!

96 England 376-8 (Johnson 0-0-4-4-3-2): Swann knew exactly what he had in mind when he nicked the strike at the end of the previous over: he wanted to attack! The spinner hits two consecutive fours off Johnson, and a delightful clip into the leg side gives him three more! The first boundary was an open-faced nurdle which positively raced wide of the slips, and an exquisite drive on-the-up gave him the second.

95 England 363-8 (Siddle 4-3-0-0-0-1): Siddle begins his over in erratic fashion, with Anderson proving prolific, getting a thick outside edge for four through the slips and the vacant third man area. An excellent flick through midwicket gives the nightwatchman another three runs, with Swann adding a single at the end of the over.

94 England 355-8 (Johnson 0-0-0-1-W-0): Wicket! Johnson is really struggling to find his line, straying down the leg side on two occasions, and when he does straighten his radar, Anderson punches a drive down the ground for a single. Broad is bowled around his legs as Johnson bowls a deft off-cutter, and the ball creeps round the batsman's pads, clipping leg stump! Broad's frustration will be compounded by how composed he was looking. Graeme Swann joins Anderson at the crease.

93 England 354-7 (Siddle 0-4-0-4-0-0): Stuart Broad is in his element this morning, and is relishing the responsibility! A thick outside edge through gully gives him one four, then a second follows two balls later as Siddle over-pitches and he check-drives the ball wide of mid off for four!

92 England 346-7 (Johnson 0-3-2-0-0-1): Anderson leans into a drive which beats the infield, running through in front of point, and Broad picks up two with a precise push into the covers. The Notts bowler gets an inside edge off the following ball, but it misses the stumps as the pair pick up another run. Mitchell Johnson has not found any rhythm just yet.

91 England 340-7 (Siddle 0-0-0-0-4-0): Peter Siddle, who has two wickets to his name already in this innings, will smell a five-for as he bustles in, close to the wicket. Broad plays a glorious cover drive to move on to eight, after Siddle delivers four tight deliveries. /// Aitch gives everyone a touch of realism, but there is nothing wrong with aiming for more than 400 I guess!

11:00 This is it folks! Peter Siddle will open proceedings from the River Taff End, bowling to Stuart Broad. /// Terri-Ann believes anything over 400 will suffice, alongwith Simonhawes, while Georgewebber is sounding very bullish! Dominic-usher, if England rack up 475 then I would be very surprised, given that Monty Panesar could be in bat in two balls!

- Good morning to Garyplatt7 who is backing Monty Panesar to 'rip through' the Australia batting line up after needing to hit 450. Ydkiriakidis thinks England need 375, with Australia apparently prone to capitulating in run chases. I'm not sure about Matthew Hayden wielding the willow though, as he'll be back home pan-frying sea bass.

- The men who will need to haul England up to and beyond 400, are the current pair of nightwatchman James Anderson and Stuart Broad, with Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar to follow. Click here to view the match scorecard

- Here's something Nathan Hauritz didn't expect to read after his headaches in the opening two tour games in England. "He's a clever bowler, and he's no fool." What do you think? Click here to read more

- The Australian media seized on Kevin Pietersen's "brain snap" dismissal and took the opportunity to hammer the batsman. Click here to read about KP's "brain snap"

- The big talking point in regards to the bigger picture of this first Test remains how the pitch will fare, with the track a relative unknown quantity. Click here to read why the pitch could crumble

- To read a less prosaic and predictable view of the first day's play at the Test, including insights into Paul Collingwood's credit cards and Ravi Bopara developing the 'throat shot', click here to read the Cow Corner blog

- England started and stuttered on the opening day, with honours looking pretty even after two late wickets put Australia firmly back in the match. Click here to read the full report from Day One

- The England tail must wag strongly this morning at the Swalec Stadium, with players and pundits unanimous that Andrew Strauss's side must reach at least 400. What do you think they need? Post your comments below.

10:00 England look to build on their overnight 336 for seven against Australia on the second day of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Eurosport