Australia's Stuart Clark, left, celebrates with teammate Michael Hussey after taking the wicket of England's Paul Collingwood on the first day of the fourth cricket test match between England and Australia, at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. AP Photo/Tim Hales

And so, it comes down to this. With the 2009 Ashes series locked at one Test apiece, England and Australia reconvene at The Oval in South London to decide who walks away with the oldest, smallest, frailest trophy in world cricket. Join me tonight on this post from 7:30pm AEST to discuss the action, as it happens.

England, after jumping out to an early series lead after the second Test win at Lords, return from a fourth Test thumping at Headingley with their tail between their legs.

Australia, who perhaps should have won in Cardiff and led from the start, will return to the scene of the 2005 Ashes handover, intent on ensuring Ricky Ponting doesn’t become only the second Australian captain in history to lose the Ashes in England twice.

A drawn match and series is enough for Australia to hold onto whichever replica Ashes Urn the MCC allows to leave the Long Room at Lord’s, whereas England must win this final Test, and series, to regain the Ashes.
Selections are just as likely to become a deciding factor in this Test as is the toss.

Australia have been frustratingly uncertain about the make-up of their final eleven, and despite the invaluable role Stuart Clark played in Australia’s win at Headingley, he remains far from a certain selection for The Oval.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz will come into calculations for a return if the pitch looks likely to take spin, and suddenly, Brett Lee is also in the picture again.

Interestingly, after all the annoying talk this week, reports from England overnight suggest an unchanged Australian line-up could well be on the cards.

England, on the other hand, would love the problem of having to leave out players in form.
Ravi Bopara has paid the price for his disappointing form with the bat in the first four Tests, being replaced in a 14-man squad by South African-born Warwickshire batsman Jonathon Trott. This will be his Test debut, should he make the XI.
In contrast to Australia pondering whether to include a specialist spinner at all, England are also debating the merits of playing both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

Of course, all of England will be sweating on the fitness of inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who was cleared early last week to appear in his Test Cricket swansong. “Freddie”, quite literally it would seem, carries the hopes of Mother England.

Join me tonight on The Roar from 7:30pm AEST to discuss the action, as it happens. And just as importantly, to keep me awake.

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An early update: currently hazy, but not raining in London, just after 9am local time. Good news. I’ll be back around 1930 AEST for more updates.

Welcome Roarers one and all to the Fifth Ashes Test live blog on The Roar. A quick trawl around the ‘net tells me that at a bit after 10:30am London time, the forecast is now “Chance of Rain, partly cloudy”, and that the forecast top of 24° has almost been reached. My little weather gadget also tells me that London is mostly clear, with patchy cloud in …well, patches.

Thankfully the first pictures from the ground have verified my blatant reliance on the internet.

I want to get a few thanks out of the way nice and early: thanks to the boys from The Roar for giving me the opportunity to provide comments on today’s action, and also to my loving wife, who 18 months ago allowed me to convert a spare room into The Sport Lounge.

Hopefully, some teams soon..

Toss: England have won the toss and will bat. Onions out, Harmison in. Trott to make his debut, and Bell to bat at 3. Shortly, hopefully..

Australia unchanged, well predicted to those who did.

England:Strauss (c), Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Trott, Flintoff, Prior (w/k), Broad, Swann, Harmison, Anderson.
Australia:Katich, Watson, Ponting (c), Hussey, M.Clarke, North, Haddin (w/k), Johnson, Siddle, S.Clark, Hilfenhaus.

Not sure about the 12^th men, but that hardly matters these days anyway.

Strauss to face Hilfenhaus. Here we go!!

So two overs each from Hilfenhaus and Siddle, and it certainly looks flat, well observed Ralph.  Hilfenhaus looks to getting a bit of shape with the new ball, which is good.  Early wickets obviously the key for Australia, England would want to Strauss and Cook still at Drinks.

WICKET!! Cook c Ponting b Siddle 10 – great recovery from Siddle after going for the boundary early in the over.

Siddle looks be getting some movement away from the lefties, and this one to Cook is a cracker, had him reaching.  Great signs. 

Massive pressure here on Bell, I.  First ball is a snorter.  Ironic that Shane Warne is in the Sky commentary box.  Warnie’s a big fan – he’s already called Bell “The Sherminator”.

Hilfenhaus getting nice inswing to the left-handers too.

Strauss squeezes a couple of boundaries away, and already we can see the bowlers can’t be too short or wide, or they’ll go the journey.  Outfield looks ominously quick.

Bell might have got a life here, the super slow-mo seems to show Siddle getting a bit of wrist on the way through, but little or no appeal from the Australians, bar Brad Haddin (which would surprise no one).

Bell gets Siddle away through mid-wicket, that’ll help his confidence.  England 1/28, or 28 for 1, if you prefer..

Stuart Clark into the attack from the non-pavillion end.  Nice in-swing to Strauss straight away.

Uh oh, here comes the rain.  Play on Billy, it’s not that heavy…

I see some of you calling for Johnson already, with Bell still raw, and with Siddle getting a little straight again suddenly, it mightn’t be a bad idea.  Clark tying them down, with Johnson hurrying them up at the other end.  Siddle looks to have lost his shape suddenly, worryingly..

What are Roarers thoughts on the four quicks for Asutralia – it’s a very dry wicket, which a spinner would love.  Are three part-time tweakers good enough to exploit the conditions?

Ask and you shall receive – Johnson to Bell, from the Pavillion End.  Big shout, definite noise..   but not out says umpire Rauf.  Second ball right on traget too, Bell lucky to keep the ball in front of him, and almost delivers to Katich at short leg third ball. 

Bell doesn’t have a lot of idea here.  I fear for his safety..

I love these VB ads, don’t like the beer, but the ads are good.  “Blokes built like a brick ****house”, nice.  Have just seen the banner following too, “Blokes who’ve built a brick ****house”….

And so Drinks in the first session, and England would be happy with the run-rate, but I’m sure would prefer to have Cook still in.  Strauss looks strong already, but Bell looks in trouble to Johnson.  Bell is a man who wants to get off strike, and quickly!!  Good shape and bounce for the Australian quicks, all four have looked good so far, though won’t want to stray away from their lines with the outfield this quick. 

England 56-1 at Drinks – Strauss 25* Bell 16*.  Siddle 1-22.  Might get a drink myself, this hour has raced past!!  Keep the comments coming, I will get to as many as I can..

Ponting’s given Hilfenhaus the word again, replacing Johnson you’d assume, who looks to have gone away from bowling at Bell’s ribcage.  Clark is doing a great holding job as per usual, but Johnson is getting a bit wide.  Clark has some nice shape too.

Johnson has stayed on, but with his first ball to Strauss racing to backward square leg for 4, the change mightn’t be far away.  Good bouncer to follow up.  Great last ball to Bell, couldn’t have been far away from Katich.

Hilfenhaus on for Clark, interestingly, from the Vauxhall End.  Not the non-pavillion end as I called it earlier.  I wonder if Clark is changing ends??

Strauss is looking very strong here already, he’s clearly been the form English bat this series, and has continued that pretty much from ball one here today.  He’s playing the left-hander’s bread-and-butter shot off his hip with ease, and is playing the straight drives particularly well too.  As if he wasn’t already, he’s a key wicket that Australia really need to get before lunch.  The Australian bowlers are somewhat falling into his trap of him making them bowl to him, rather than making him play outside off.  Must get back on the off stump line..

Bell looks in trouble to the short ball, but just played a glorious cover drive off Hilfenhaus.  Although, he might have over extended himself here, and here comes the physio.  At least he’s obviously needed this time, as opposed to just appearing at Cardiff..

England 79-1, a touch less than 30 minutes to Lunch on Day 1.

Very handy partnership building here, with about 15 minutes to lunch, and you’d have to give England the honours for the morning if they can maintain this to the interval.  Australia just looks to be bowling way too straight currently, and has been the case for the last hour or so.  Strauss has just stood and delivered Siddle to the long on boundary, with David Lloyd declaring it the shot of the morning.  Siddle is already conceeding 4.2 per over, and Johnson 5.4, which is way too many on the first morning.

I wonder if anyone’s regretting the four quicks policy yet?  I’ll give it some time still..

Fifty for Andrew Strauss, he’s looked very ominous this morning, and has hit ten 4s in his 50*.

England’s 100 is up too, with Bell’s lofted shot over point.  Bell gets another one off his hip, England 104-1.  Bell seems to have raced to 37* after struggling early.

LUNCH: England 108-1, Strauss 50* Bell 41*.  Siddle 1/41 from 8, Clark 0/6 from 5.  England have batted very well after losing Cook early, and Australia will need to rethink their bowling plans to break this partnership.

Those two hours have flown, and this has been a lot of fun so far.  I’ll be back at around 10:30pm AEST, after a bit of a break myself.  Keep the comments coming, enjoying everyone’s feedback.

SECOND SESSION Key questions:  Hi all, I’m back, and here are the key questions for the afternoon session as I see them:

• Can Australia find it’s line and length again, not to mention the swing that seemed to be there from the start?
• Will they keep gifting Strauss runs on his leg stump, and will they put Bell under the pump again against the short ball?
• Is there any chance of rain to slow this run rate?
• Can I maintain this all night, or have I gone too hard too early? and
• Has the number of Roarers following me dwindled already, especially those on the red wine?

Here we go, Hilfenhaus to start proceedings, Bell on strike on 41*

I should mention my personal sponsors at this point too, who are all doing their bit to keep me awake – thanks in no particular order to the people behind instant coffee, chocolate buscuits, english muffins, and strawberry jam…

The century partnership comes up for Strauss and Bell almost straight away, but there;s been a breakthrough!!

WICKET!!  Strauss c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 55 – that’s a massive breakthrough for Australia, and could not have been more timely.  Well deserved Ben Hilfenhaus, he’s been the pick of the Australian bowlers this series in my humble opinion..

How will Collingwood go in the unfamiliar position of No.4?

I do like this field for Ian Bell, or did, he just managed to squeeze it through a narrow gap.  But the idea is right, Bell is definitely prone to flicking that ball through mid-wicket in the air, and the man at shortish, straightish mid-on is in the game too.  Ponting doesn’t traditionally get a lot of praise for his field placing, but I reckon he’s got this right.

What do we make of Brad Haddin’s ‘keeping so far tonight? Apart from clanging one in the first few overs – not a chance – he’s looked pretty solid so far.  He’s either got a very solid splint in the glove, or the seventeen Nurofen have taken effect nicely..

Collingwood doesn’t seem to under as much pressure as I’d like for the new batsman.  Seems to be getting runs away a little easily.

Fifty for Ian Bell, with the tuck around the corner to fine leg for 4 (Conks, boundary count now 22).  Bell, to his credit has recovered well since the early barrage from Johnson.  England 131/2.

Controversy!! Replays of Hilfenhaus’ wicket ball showed a massive no-ball that’s obviously gone undetected.  Love the human element of umpiring..

So at the halfway mark on Day 1, England are 158/2 at Drinks in the second session with Bell and Collingwood both looking pretty comfortable on 63* and 16* respectively.  Hilfenhaus seems to be the only bowler currently swinging the ball, and Johnson has worryingly returned to his Cardiff and Lord’s form, suddenly spraying them everywhere again.  Might be time to try something new Ricky, perhaps some spin?? 

Massive appeal on Collingwood from behind the stumps, but not really much from Hilfenhaus.  Sounded like a noise on the replay, but Hotpot shows nothing.  Ponting looks frustrated, probably as much to do with Billy Bowden’s failure to even acknowledge the appeal; he seemed more intent on giving Hilfenhaus his cap back.  Snicko shows a sharpish “blip”, which has the characteristics of bat, but it’s immaterial now..

North finally into the attack from the Pavillion End.  And as I predicted, useful turn from the first ball.  Why it’s taken this long to take the pace off I’ll never know, and this is why Ponting seems to find himself copping criticism as a captain.  I’d estimate we’ve been saying among ourselves for 45 minutes or more that some spin was needed?  Why does it take Ponting so long to react sometimes?

WICKET!! Collingwood c Hussey b Siddle 24.  England 176/3,  and a handy time to get the wicket, with about 20 minutes to Tea.  A perfect time to have a crack at the Debutant, Jonathon “Gotha” Trott(s).  Australia really needed that wicket.

Siddle’s giving Trott some curry here (pun intended, it’s late and we need some cheap humour), Siddle looks to be channelling his inner Merv Hughes.  That’s Merv the angry bowler too, not Merv the leisurely selector.  More of the short stuff please, Peter..

Nice, Marcus North bunging it in short to Trott too.  Pretty well taken by Haddin actually, and the panic in Michael Clarke running from First was gold!!

Five or six minutes to Tea, but this session has really stalled in the last half hour.  Still only 51 overs bowled for the day too..

England 180-3 at TEA then, Bell 72* Trott 3*.  Siddle 2/47, Hilfenhaus 1/59.  I didn’t think I’d be saying this three hours ago, but Ian Bell is looking rock solid at the moment.  Run rate is currently 7 overs down, and that once again is going to be a major concern for Australia, and Ricky Ponting’s accountant in particular.  Early wickets will yet again be the key for the Evening session.  Time to boil the jug again..

THIRD SESSION Key Questions: welcome back Roarers, we’re on the downhill slope now.

• Can Australia get the early session wicket again?
• Can Ricky Ponting react somewhat quicker to what seems to be obvious (to us) bowling changes?
• Can Ian Bell raise a maiden Ashes century, and is he England’s best option at No.3?
• Is a slow over rate fine and/or suspension for Ponting a small price to pay when the Ashes are on the line? and
• Am I talking to myself now, at 1am AEST?

WICKET!! Bell b Siddle 72, England 181-4.  There’s questions 1 and 3 answered from above, yes and no, as it turns out.  Useful off-cutter from Siddle, massive inside edge also helped nicely.  Bell must be kicking cans in the dressing room now at the missed opportunity.  Clark now into the attack, bowling to Trott.

Australia need to go for the throat here, Collingwood was out 20 minutes before Tea with the score on 176, England have barely scored since.  Trott is obviously somewhat unknown, but Prior can score quickly when he gets going.  If Australia were able to get into the English bowlers within the next hour, they’d be well on top for the day.  But they have to keep bolwing well, keep on the lines and restrict England’s scoring as they’ve been doing either side of Tea.  Perhaps let these two newish bats face some Johnson heat?

A massive off-cutter from Siddle that beats everything including a diving Brad Haddin goes for 4 byes, and that’s England’s 200 up in the 60th over.  Where their run rate was once well over four prior to lunch, it’s now under 3.5.

And I think the answer to question five above can be answered in the affirmative too..

Marcus North back into the attack, and probably not a bad option either.  Trott and Prior, while still not looking convincing, have been together more than an hour, and the runs are starting to tick over, to the point that the partnership is nearing 50.  England 228/4.

Aborted LBW shout, Trott just managed to get a late inside edge to North.  Was again playing across the line, might have been pretty adjacent.

WICKET!! Prior c Watson b Johnson 18.  Prior was absolutely set up here by Johnson, just like Bopara in Cardiff, he roughed him up with a useful bouncer, then threw up the wide slower ball and Prior lobbed it to Watson at point.  England 229-5

And here he is, in his final Test Match, Andrew Flintoff.  No pressure Freddie, just all of England..

Nathan Hauritz would’ve loved the sight of Marcus North turning a ball more than 45 degrees, getting bounce too, and beating everything including bat and ‘keeper on its way to the boundary for four byes.

England 242-5 at Drinks in the Evening session.  Trott 32* Flintoff 4*.  North is resuming, and Johnson in his last over gave Flintoff a bit of a hurry up with a few balls.  Trott needs to be similarly tested..

WICKET!!  Flintoff c Haddin b Johnson 7.  A short, wide ball from Johnson, and Flintoff obliges by wafting a bat at it.  Johnson’s bowled very well in this spell, and is definitely getting reward for his plans and pace.  There’s a definitely hush over the ground now at The Oval, and Australia would be correctly judged as being on top with England now 247-6.   Broad is the new man in to face Johnson, and it’s hard to see him being allowed to get away as he did in the second dig at Headingley.

Great bowling here from Johnson, Broad does his best to give the slips catching practice, but can’t get the glove to carry to a diving Ponting at Second.

A slightly curious change here, with Watson on for Johnson.  I guess at least Ponting is trying something here, but why he’s taken Johnson off when bowling as well as he was is beyond me, I must admit.  Trott, who’s barely faced Johnson, will find Watson rather comfortable I’d imagine, as would Broad.  A big LBW shout against Trott, which I thought on first glance did too much, and was heading down leg.  Replay shows it hitting in front of middle and leg, and Hawkeye unsurprisingly has it hitting the top of leg.

WICKET!! Trott run out (Katich) 41.   A brilliant piece of fielding from Katich at short leg, Trott thought the ball had got past, took the extra step or two and couldn’t get back quick enough to beat Katich’s direct hit.  Super stuff there, had him by half a bat length.

And a big LBW shout on Swann first ball, but he also got an inside edge.  I take all comments about the safety of North back, the England bowlers are making him look like he’s bowling hand granades.  It’s all happening suddenly,  England now 268-7.

Watson’s pace is quite encouraging, consistently in the 80mph + range,  but he just can’t get it away from the scoring channels for Broad and Swann.  Broad just got a very stylish boundary away over wide mid on, it just sat up nicely for him.  Still a reasonable batting strip obviously.  Australia will want wickets with the new ball..

Broad nicks Watson, but doesn’t carry to Ponting at second slip,  not quite The Oval of old – no carry on Day 1??

So the new ball is now due, with England 288-7, and Australia will do well to get many more than 6 or 7 overs in.  Curiously, North continues..

OK, three overs later than it was available, the new ball has been taken by Siddle.  Seven overs remain scheduled, but we might do well to get three, given it’s 6:21pm in London.  One more wicket would definitely tip the scales in Australia’s favour for the first day.

A glorious Swann cover drive brings up the England 300, now 303-7.  The partnership is now 39 in ten overs.  Hilfenhaus into the attack, perhaps one more over after this one.

WICKET!!  Swann c Haddin b Siddle 18,  and that’s Siddle’s fourth wicket, and will also be the end of the First Day.

STUMPS: England 307-8, Broad 26*.  Siddle 4/63, Johnson 2/69.  I think with 8 wickets, five of them in the last session, honours probably just go to Australia, but England will be delighted – even chuffed – to have posted more than 300.

But that’s it Roarers, the live blog done.  I look forward to further discussions tomorrow, and if anyone from my work is still reading, I might be a bit late in the morning.

Thanks to everyone for getting involved today, it’s been a lot of fun following the action for you!!