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

England will have been buoyed by taking their fifth wicket, with Michael Clarke falling to Stuart Broad for 83, but it has without doubt been Australia's day, assuming a 44-run first-innings lead.

- It has been confirmed that there will be no further play on Day Three of this first Test at Cardiff, with Australia ending on 479 for five.

\xE2\x80\xA2- This time the Australia batsmen are given a different excuse to leave the field, with a very light drizzle enough for umpires Billy Doctrove and Aleem Dar. England captain Andrew Strauss and his side are not happy at all!

138 Australia 479-5 (Broad 0-0-0-2-0-0): Broad, buoyed by his exploits in the previous over comes around the wicket to Haddin, who makes a meal out of picking a yorker. The umpires are not buying their wide-eyed bad-light hints, and who can blame them with the floodlights on?!

137 Australia 477-5 (Flintoff 0-0-0-2-0-0): Flintoff is furious with one of his team mates for not walking in: village stuff. The big all-rounder pounds in and bowls Haddin a superb yorker which the new batsman does very well to dig out, before pulling a short ball away for two runs.

136 Australia 475-5 (Broad 0-1-0-1-1-W): WICKET!!! BROAD STRIKES FOR ENGLAND UNDER THE LIGHTS! Michael Clarke departs for 83 after a fine knock, and England have their fifth breakthrough of the innings! Broad has a huge grin on his face after a superb over, and after finally taking his first wicket, Brad Haddin is forced to come out to bat.

135 Australia 472-4 (Flintoff 0-0-1-0-0-0): Flintoff's first delivery of the over keeps quite low as it dips under Clarke's bat and is collected by Prior, stooping low to his right, while the second carries high to the wicket-keeper. Just one run comes off the over, and Australia will be hoping to just play out this final session.

134 Australia 471-4 (Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0): Once again, Andrew Strauss turns to Stuart Broad to re-open the attack, and the seamer begins with a maiden over, bowling a tight line outside North's off stump, who absolutely loves to leave the ball! He does it four times in all.

133 Australia 471-4 (Flintoff 1-0-1-4-2-0): Andrew Flintoff bowls the first over after the rain break, and Cardiff has now hosted the first Test match in Britain to have been played under floodlights. Clarke punches a back-foot drive through the covers for an exquisite boundary, and it is as if the batsman had never been away.

- We have 12 overs left in the day or until 19:30 conditions permitting, and we are about to get back underway in Cardiff. Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove are leading the players out, with a sparse crowd remaining.

- 18:15 is the adjusted time for the resumption of play, and potentially the umpires can then keep the players out there until 19:30 if the light is good enough. Having said that, it is very gloomy!

- A world record six-wicket partnership between Fields (129) and Haynes (82) for Australia's womens has helped them to consolidate against England's women at New Road.

- Bad news folks: the covers were tentatively being stripped off before a second smattering of rain prompted a hasty reinstatement. /// Glad you are able to follow the match/rain with us Aitch, and there is no doubt that England's attack has looked pretty lacking in invention today. Andrew Strauss must have some responsibility there too.

- There was no rain forecasted for today, but having arrived early, the groundstaff are working frantically to get us back underway. Play will now restart at 17:05. 53 minutes of the extra hour will be exploited. Should Australia launch the offensive now, with six wickets left to work with?

- The rain abates slightly, but then begins to teem it down in Cardiff, and the players loiter around the entrance to the dressing rooms. Many of you have been calling for rain: it has come, and much more is forecasted for tomorrow! What price a draw?

132 Australia 463-4 (Collingwood 0-0-1-0-0-0): It is pretty overcast at Cardiff, with a few spots of rain in the air as Paul Collingwood jogs in for another over to Marcus North. Just a single comes off the over, and the covers are immediately summoned with the players trotting off after a very brief start to the evening session.

131 Australia 462-4 (Flintoff 0-0-1-1-1-0): Flintoff bowls around the wicket to North, attempting to get the ball to jag back in to the batsman's pads, but he and Clarke rotate the strike with consummate ease. One very lighthearted appeal goes up as North's pads are struck, but it is far too high.

130 Australia 459-4 (Collingwood 0-1-0-0-0-0): Collingwood resumes after tea, and England do not look like they have any ideas as Clarke and North continue to bat slowly and steadily. Andrew Flintoff continues at the other end, and Andrew Strauss is desperate for his strike bowler to make a breakthrough.

- The tea interval is called early by umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove, and Australia are 23 runs ahead at 458 for the loss of four wickets. England have it all to do once more, with North and Clarke having very little pressure on them now. How do you think England can recover from this?

129 Australia 458-4 (Flintoff 0-0-1-0-1-2): Marcus North brings up his 50 off 107 balls, despite Flintoff forcing two good dot balls to apply the pressure. A nurdle down to fine leg brings Clarke on strike, and both batsmen are very well set. It is the same situation England found themselves in earlier with Katich and Ponting!

128 Australia 454-4 (Collingwood 1-0-0-0-0-0): Michael Clarke plays out a very economical over from Paul Collingwood, with Marcus North now on strike against Andrew Flintoff, one run away from his half-century.

127 Australia 453-4 (Flintoff 0-0-0-1-0-1): Flintoff is at least keeping the bowling tight as North approaches his half-century - on 48 now. But surely the big man has to be used as a strike bowler, and keeping the runs down is not the best way to do it. Incidentally, he only had one slip at the end of that over.

126 Australia 451-4 (Collingwood 0-4b-4b-0-0-4): Prior concedes four byes from two consecutive balls - quite a feat off the medium-trundler, and another boundary comes as Colly moves around the wicket to North, and is cut behind point for four. /// Has anyone got an idea how England can take six further wickets? It seems a million miles away!

125 Australia 439-4 (Flintoff 1-1-3-0-1-4): Flintoff is brought on in a desperate attempt to conceal the fact that Australia have hauled themselves up to England's first-innings total for the loss of just four wickets! A stunning pull shot from Clarke takes Australia into the lead.

124 Australia 429-4 (Collingwood 0-0-1-0-2-0): Colly gets the ball straight and nibbling into Clarke's pads, before North patiently sees out the over, including a push into the covers for two. A huge roar greets the introduction of Andrew Flintoff as he marks out his run up.

123 Australia 426-4 (Anderson 0-1-0-0-4-0): Anderson looks on despondently as North flicks a stray leg-side delivery down to deep fine leg, where Panesar fails to save four, sprawling clumsily to his left. England are beginning to look very agitated now! And who is on next, but Paul Collingwood! Thoughts?

122 Australia 421-4 (Swann 1-4-0-0-0-0): Swann swaps from over, to around the wicket, and traps North slap bang in front of his stumps. Billy Doctrove turns down the appeal, and it looks pretty marginal. North had earlier struck a crisp boundary after Clarke had taken a swift single.

121 Australia 416-4 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0): Anderson tempts North into a drive, but Bopara is sharply in from extra cover to prevent the single. It is an uneventful maiden from Anderson, who is not extracting nearly the amount of swing he would have hoped for from the new cherry.

120 Australia 416-4 (Swann 0-0-0-4-4-0): Clarke races to his 14th Test 50, and it has come off exactly 100 balls. Australia's vice-captain canters along, hammering a second boundary over mid off in a very similar fashion to the first boundary, which was just slightly less aerial.

119 Australia 408-4 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0): Anderson bowls a very tight line and length, as North demonstrates that he can leave literally anything which is not otherwise going to hit the stumps. It is a maiden over from Anderson, but he does not look happy with the return he is getting in terms of swing. At least is swung for a bit!

118 Australia 408-4 (Swann 0-4-0-0-0-1): Billy Doctrove turns down another strong appeal from Swann, but this time he was dead right with North getting an inside edge. In fact, he pretty much middled it! North then picks up a boundary with a guided edge down through third man for four.

117 Australia 403-4 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-1): After a brief drinks break, Anderson returns from the River Taff End and bowls to Marcus North, who bats stoically, taking just a single off the final ball. /// Cartman_30_uk: That curse looks increasingly improbable as Anderson starts with three leg-side deliveries, but hopefully Flintoff can inject some enthusiasm into the crowd.

116 Australia 402-4 (Panesar 0-4-0-2-1-0): A fine pull shot from Clarke off the back foot gives him four through the leg side as Monty drops slightly short, and Australia's 400 is brought up. /// Clivesedgebeer1 is refusing to let England fans blame the pitch, and both teams still have another use of it.

115 Australia 395-4 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann gets two deliveries to turn quite considerably to Michael Clarke, who is eventually forced to use his feet and push the ball down the pitch for one. The off spinner is pretty enthusiastic after those two ripped into Clarke's body, but the number five is playing the spin very well on the whole.

114 Australia 395-4 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-0): Monty is getting some decent bounce, which is a rarity, and Clarke is taken aback by one which spits up at him, and he fends it off, but to safety. The spinner continues to plug away outside off stump, but the pair are looking pretty comfortable at the crease.

113 Australia 394-4 (Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0): Swann persists with coming around the wicket, and it seems to make sense, finding the rough created by the seamers outside North's off stump. /// Richardshackles is questioning Strauss's captaincy in continuing with Broad, who is wicketless. It is certainly true that he is not mixing his bowlers up very much today, which is allowing Australia's new batsmen to settle.

112 Australia 394-4 (Panesar 0-1-0-0-0-1): Panesar changes his approach from looking for the rough and bowling over the wicket, to coming around and changing the angle, but there is less spin to be had there. Clarke plays very cautiously as the spinner makes him play at every delivery.

111 Australia 392-4 (Swann 0-1-0-0-4-0): Swann comes into the attack, and Clarke breaks his bat after playing an innocuous drive which causes a slight delay in proceedings. The off spinner comes around the wicket to North, but he rocks on the back foot and punches a short ball through the covers superbly for four.

110 Australia 387-4 (Panesar 0-0-1-1-2-0): Panesar has an appeal for an lbw turned down off North, who is looking to attack at every opportunity. North then miscues a drive and it loops over the slips, but no fielder is able to dive and reach it.

109 Australia 383-4 (Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0): North, who scored 191 in the second innings against the England Lions, is clearly in a confident mood as he attempts to pull a good-length delivery from Broad, but he misses and it strikes him square in the chest.

108 Australia 382-4 (Panesar 0-1-2-0-0-6): Panesar gets a delivery to zip low and fast at Michael Clarke, but he gets his bat down low to the ball and digs it out. Clarke then dispatches a decent ball from Monty straight over his head for six at the 64 metre short boundary.

107 Australia 373-4 (Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0): Broad slams two consecutive bouncers into the pitch as if just to reassure himself that it is not indeed a sponge pudding in disguise. It is a decent maiden over from Broad, but to no avail.

106 Australia 373-4 (Panesar 0-1-0-0-0-0): A huge appeal from Panesar greets a forward press from North, with the ball thudding into his front pad, but Billy Doctrove is unmoved. /// Will M and Stefi Graf's ex are desperate for rain, which is set to come tomorrow for sure!

105 Australia 372-4 (Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0): Broad seems to be struggling with his rhythm as this pudding pitch continues to sap his speed, but he continues to average near 88mph, but his pace has deteriorated slowly throughout this match. Aleem Dar is looking at Broad's follow-through as though the seamer has committed a grave crime.

104 Australia 371-4 (Panesar 0-0-4-0-0-0): A savage on drive from North which he lofts over the infield superbly goes for four as Panesar comes back over the wicket and pitches the ball at the batsman's feet. North attempts a hefty slog from the final ball of the over, but it dribbles out to Pietersen at mid on.

103 Australia 367-4 (Broad 0-0-0-0-4-0): The pitch seems to have got even slower since lunch, and Prior frantically shepherds his slip cordon up a few yards to counter the dreadfully poor carry. A delightful cover drive from Clarke punishes a full, wide half-volley from Broad, and Australia are consolidating well after the interval.

102 Australia 363-4 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-1): Panesar is bowling very wide of the crease, and coming around the wicket to Clarke, who uses his feet to dance down the track on two occasions. England look pretty flat after lunch.

101 Australia 362-4 (Broad 1-0-lb-0-0-0): Swann is positively itching to get on to bowl at mid on, as Broad completes a pretty uneventful over, finding a good line and length, but failing to get the ball to bounce and swing as Flintoff and Anderson were starting to do before lunch.

100 Australia 360-4 (Panesar 1-0-4-0-0-0): Clarke punishes a short delivery from Panesar with a fierce cut for four, and the vice-captain looks very composed. /// Jason551982 believes Australia will reach 500 and England will respond by batting the match out. The odds would certainly suggest that a draw is the most likely outcome with rain due to sweep in tomorrow.

99 Australia 355-4 (Broad 0-0-4-0-0-3): Broad resumes after lunch, and Marcus North gets off the mark with an exquisite off drive as the seamer over-pitches with his third delivery. As has been the case throughout the Test match, large areas of the stands are empty as the corporate lunches begin their sixth courses.

- The players leave the field for the lunch break and Australia are 87 runs behind England's first innings total, with six wickets in hand. Who do you think holds the ascendancy now? This match is very finely poised indeed!

98 Australia 348-4 (Panesar 0-0-2-0-0-0): Panesar rattles through a typically uneventful final over before lunch, with every player having their minds elsewhere! Three wickets and 99 runs have come in that session, with England the happier. /// Jamie reckons that Harmison should be brought in for the second Test at Lord's. He will almost certainly be brought in for the remaining four Tests, but the lack of bounce counted against him here apparently.

97 Australia 346-4 (Broad 0-0-0-3-0-0): Broad continues despite his very expensive opening over, and a punchy on drive from Clarke brings three runs off the fourth delivery. Australia are 89 runs behind now, with six wickets remaining.

96 Australia 343-4 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0): Panesar is getting a lot of bounce out of this wicket, and in coming over the wicket is getting the ball to turn a lot in the rough. North has two men, Bopara and Cook, in very close attendance, no doubt giving him some advice under their helmets!

95 Australia 343-4 (Broad 4-2-0-4-2-0): Clarke edges wide of third slip as Stuart Broad comes into the attack, but that is the second boundary of the over after a pull shot from the number five. North is being shielded early on at the non-striker's end as he grows accustomed to the middle. Clarke is playing very aggressively, but giving chances!

94 Australia 331-4 (Panesar 1-1-0-0-W-0): WICKET! MONTY DOES THE TRICK! With three men around the bat, Panesar is back into the attack, and misses an opportunity to run out Clarke with a backhand flick - that was not even close! But Monty makes amends, and it is Ponting who is dismissed! The Australia captain gets an inside edge on to his stumps attempting a fierce cut, and just two balls after he had raised his bat for his 150! Marcus North is next in.

93 Australia 329-3 (Flintoff 0-0-1-0-0-0): Flintoff has three slips and a gully as he bustles in to bowl to Michael Clarke, and it is an economical over from the big man but yields no results in terms of wickets. Ponting remains on 149.

92 Australia 328-3 (Anderson 0-0-1-0-1-0): Anderson bowls to Clarke with Ponting stranded at the non-strikers end on 149, and when the captain finally does get on strike, Anderson bowls a fine delivery outside his off stump. Flintoff to resume...

91 Australia 326-3 (Flintoff 0-0-1-0-0-0): Ponting takes a quick single to bring Clarke on strike, who fidgets, prods and gardens the wicket, but fails to connect with three tremendous deliveries from Flintoff outside off stump.

90 Australia 325-3 (Anderson W-0-0-0-0-0): WICKET, ONE BRINGS TWO AND ALL THAT!!! Anderson gets the new cherry to drift away from Hussey, who presses forward hesitantly and edges behind to Prior for just three! If Hussey was an ominous new batsman to come to the crease, Michael Clarke is in at number five. What an over from Jimmy: Clarke plays it out but can barely get bat on ball.

89 Australia 325-2 (Flintoff 0-1-6-0-0-0): Flintoff digs another bouncer in at Ponting, who gets a top edge which flies over Panesar's head at deep fine leg for six! That is how fast Flintoff is bowling that it positively flew off Ponting's bat. /// A roof over Lord's would cost four times as much as Wimbledon Terri-Ann, and The Oval more still! The size of a cricket pitch compared to a tennis court is vast.

88 Australia 318-2 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0): Anderson roars in and fires two deliveries across the bat of Mike Hussey, who is being very watchful indeed. It is a maiden over, and the seamer seems to be really enjoying bowling to Hussey, with the right-handed Ponting proving more troublesome to adjust his line to.

87 Australia 318-2 (Flintoff 2-1-4lb-nb-0-1-0): Flintoff cracks Hussey on the helmet with a fierce bouncer from around the wicket, and the Australia number four looks pretty relieved that Andrew Strauss's field is not overly attacking. Come on England, get on the front foot and exploit this new ball!

86 Australia 309-2 (Anderson 0-0-1-0-0-2): Anderson gets a terrific delivery to nip back in at Ponting, and he continues to bustle in and find good areas outside the off stump. Hussey almost plays on to his stumps but fortunately for him, the ball cannons back off his thigh pad after getting an inside edge.

85 Australia 306-2 (Flintoff 0-0-4-2-1-0): Australia's 300 is brought up as Flintoff strays on to Ponting's pads and he whips it away with consummate ease. England's fielders are clearly buoyed by the breakthrough, and Flintoff finds a perfect line to Ponting outside the off stump, and he and Anderson must keep the pressure firmly on.

84 Australia 299-2 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-1-W): WICKET, FINALLY ENGLAND HAVE THEIR BREAKTHROUGH! Anderson continues to work furiously on the new ball in between deliveries, and it pays off as he gets one to swing viciously in at Katich's pads, and umpire Billy Doctrove has no hesitation in raising his finger. /// There is your swing with the new cherry Dennis B, and hopefully that will increase as Collingwood and Co get the mints out!

83 Australia 298-1 (Flintoff 0-0-4-0-0-0): Flintoff probes outside Katich's off stump once more, and the opener manages to open the face and edge the ball through third slip for four. Flintoff digs one in short and has Katich hopping around on the crease, and was struck on the top of the back.

82 Australia 294-1 (Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-4): Anderson digs the ball in short to Ponting after five good deliveries, and he gets the ball over gully for four. /// Kestephenson is not the first to question Ottis Gibson's credentials as bowling coach, but it is not his fault that England have not found much swing yet. Hilfenhaus is the only bowler in the match to have found profuse swing so far. The fact is, the ECB did not offer Troy Cooley a proper extension to his contract.

81 Australia 290-1 (Flintoff wd-0-0-0-0-0-0): The big man is into the attack, and Strauss has learnt his lesson from yesterday! Flintoff begins with a booming wide and smiles ruefully, but draws Katich into a wild drive with his second delivery. The allrounder finds a short length and peppers Katich, who is forced further and further back in his crease.

80 Australia 289-1 (Anderson 0-4-0-0-4-0): The new ball is taken straight away by Andrew Strauss, and Jimmy Anderson is the man who will get first use out of it! Ponting pulls Anderson's second delivery for four and seems to be relishing the extra pace being offered. The Australia captain leans into a cover drive to add a second boundary, and Anderson must raise his game.

79 Australia 281-1 (Swann 3-0-0-0-4-0): Swann rattles through his over and in his haste he pitches short with Katich pouncing: hammering the ball in front of point for four and looking very composed despite the prodigious turn out there today.

78 Australia 274-1 (Panesar 0-0-4-0-0-0): Panesar finds the outside edge of Katich's bat, with the ball dropping just short of Collingwood at slip, but the opener reacts with an expansive cover drive for four. The spinners are striving so hard for a wicket that they continue to over-pitch slightly.

77 Australia 270-1 (Swann 4-0-0-0-2-0): Swann is furious with himself for over-pitching and Ponting drives the full toss straight down the ground for four runs. That was too easy. The off spinner responds with an absolute jaffa, a ball which spins and bounces extravagantly off a length and has Ponting taking evasive action.

76 Australia 264-1 (Panesar 1-0-0-4-0-0): A glorious cover drive off the back foot from Ponting moves him on to 109, with the ball racing away for four as Panesar drops short. The pair's 200-run partnership is brought up off 372 balls. /// Cartman_30_UK, there is certainly something to be said for the 'boy cries wolf' with Panesar, and umpires and match officials have complained in the past about his persistent appealing. Hopefully he will have something genuine to shout about today!

75 Australia 259-1 (Broad 3-0-0-0-0-0): Ponting leans gracefully into an on drive which runs away for three, with Anderson showing his pace by hauling the ball back in from the boundary. /// JSS, you sound like a Schott's Almanac with that collection of greats, good stuff.

74 Australia 256-1 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-0): Panesar appeals vehemently after Ponting thrusts his pad at a full-pitched ball, but it was not even close. The Australia captain takes a swift single with four men around the bat, and Panesar continues his sprightly start.

73 Australia 255-1 (Broad 1-0-1-0-0-4): A quick single from a clip past Matt Prior by Katich brings up Australia's 250, as Stuart Broad comes around the wicket to the left-hander. Ponting takes another single, and a delightful off drive from Katich ends the over with a flourish.

72 Australia 249-1 (Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0): Monty Panesar rattles through a maiden to start the day superbly from the River Taff End. It is a probing over from the left-arm spinner, and he finds some very good areas outside the off stump. The new ball is seven overs away!

71 Australia 249-1 (Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0): Stuart Broad will open the bowling from the Cathedral Road End to Simon Katich, who is on 104, with Ponting at the non-striker's end on 100. Broad fires through a testing maiden, getting two balls to spit off a good length, and that is promising for England!

- Paul Collingwood said in his Eurosport-Yahoo! blog that England's spin department is stronger than Australia's, and with the seamers they have too, are looking good in both areas. - Adrrc99 is right to put things in perspective for England supporters, and the slow pitch must be taken in context. I'm not sure that Ricky Ponting is even 'maybe' the best batsman of all time. He is a very fine/great player, but batsmen play far more matches in the modern game, so his run tally of 11,000 runs should be tempered with that in mind.

\xE2\x80\xA2- As Fletch points out, batting on this track is all about patience, as Katich and Ponting proved so brilliantly last evening. It was immensely frustrating for England, but only because they should have played with similar circumspection.

- The new ball is due in nine overs, so surely it is time to give Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar a few quick overs to see if there is appreciable turn out there today, then hand Freddie and Jimmy Anderson the new cherry asap. Do you agree with that? Post your comments below.

- Andrew Strauss has copped a fair amount of criticism for not handing Andrew Flintoff the new cherry yesterday, with Phil Hughes and Simon Katich capitalising on some loose bowling from Stuart Broad, in particular. How do you think Strauss should approach his side's assault in the field today?

- Australia opener Katich battled to his first century in seven Tests against England with a steely resolve fuelled by the bitter disappointment of losing the Ashes four years ago.

- England's 2005 Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff gave a dressing room rallying cry following Australian domination of the second day of the opening Test in Cardiff.

- It was not all doom and gloom for England yesterday, with a riotous morning session from Graeme Swann and James Anderson.

- Australia captain Ricky Ponting and opener Simon Katich scored unbeaten centuries during a second-wicket partnership of 189 on the second day of the first Ashes Test against England.

- The weather for this third day is looking very good, with the sun bathing the Swalec Stadium, and temperatures around 16 degrees. England would have been hoping to wake up with a thicker smattering of cloud cover, however.

10:00 England desperately need early wickets against Australia on the morning of the third day in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff, with Ricky Ponting's side 249 for one overnight.

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