Australia was fighting to keep alive its hopes of winning the Ashes series Sunday, slumping to 88-2 at stumps on the fourth day of the third test to trail England by 25 runs.

Shane Watson was 34 not out and Michael Hussey unbeaten on 18 at Edgbaston after England had totaled 376 and then dismissed Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting in consecutive overs.

Katich was caught behind off Graham Onions for 26, trying to drive a straight delivery through mid-on to leave Australia 47-1 in the 14th over.

Ten balls and five runs later, Ponting was bowled between bat and pad for 5 by a delivery from Graeme Swann that spun back sharply.

Ponting, who became Australia’s leading test run-scorer Friday, could also have been lbw to Swann two balls before his dismissal, but umpire Rudi Koertzen turned down the appeal.

Watson and Hussey saw out the remaining 13 overs with play extended because an hour was lost at the start of the day due to a wet outfield. Saturday’s play was washed out, as was 60 overs on Thursday.

“It’s a big day for us tomorrow,” Flintoff said. “We’ve lost a lot of time to rain, but if we can start well like the other day (when England claimed wickets with the first two balls on Friday) and put some pressure on Australia we can win the test match.

“But they might think if they have a good morning they can do well so, it’s a big morning for both teams. It’s going to be attritional cricket, but there’s a quiet confidence, though we know it’s going to be tough.”

With a day remaining, Australia will struggle to gain enough of a lead and be able to bowl England out again for a series-leveling victory. A draw would mean Australia could still win the series with wins at Headingley and The Oval. A drawn series would be enough for Australia to retain the Ashes.

“We always try to win, but with the amount of rain in the game it’s probably made it hard,” Australia’s Ben Hilfenhaus said. “We will look to bat for as long as we can and if we are enough runs in front, who knows in the last session?”

England resumed on 116-2 and took command after Andrew Flintoff struck an aggressive 74 to help give his side a first-innings lead of 113. He added 89 from 97 balls in a match-turning sixth wicket stand with Matt Prior (41).

“It’s nice batting with Matt Prior as he is an aggressive batsman as well,” Flintoff said. “It was a good partnership in the middle order and put us in a decent position for tomorrow.”

Flintoff hit 10 fours and a six in 79 balls before being dismissed just before tea, following Prior and Ian Bell (53) to the pavilion in the session.

Flintoff, who will retire from test cricket after the series because of injury troubles, was out trying to leave a short delivery from offspinner Nathan Hauritz, the ball turning back and flicking his glove on the way to slip.

It had been an entertaining innings. He asserted his authority with a signature straight drive for four off medium-pacer Watson in his first over and played a second straight drive along the floor for another boundary in Watson’s second over.

Flintoff brought England level with Australia’s 263 with a six over long-on off Hauritz, before a powerful sweep shot two balls later gave England the lead and Flintoff his half-century.

“We had plans to get him out but he batted reasonably well and had an impact with the way he batted,” Hilfenhaus said of Flintoff. “We had hoped to bowl them out quickly and push on with the bat earlier, but we will now have to turn to ‘Plan B.”‘

Prior’s 59-ball innings ended when he mistimed a short ball from Peter Siddle and scooped it to mid-on. But Stuart Broad didn’t allow the momentum to subside, hitting nine boundaries to score 55 in 64 balls. He also exchanging heated words with bowler Mitchell Johnson during an over that cost 15 runs.

England’s last five wickets added 208 runs, whereas Australia’s could only score 70 on Friday.

Australia started the better on Sunday, dismissing Andrew Strauss for 69 when he edged Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Graham Manou after trying to cut a ball that was too close to him.

Hilfenhaus, who finished with 4-108, then had Paul Collingwood caught by Ponting at second slip on the stroke of lunch.

Although Bell was lbw to Johnson five overs after the interval, Flintoff, Prior and Broad gave England the advantage with some enterprising stroke-play.

Andrew Flintoff’s 74 took England into a first innings lead against Australia in the rain-affected third Ashes Test at Edgbaston as the hosts looked to cement their 1-0 series lead.

England, at tea on Sunday’s fourth day, were 316 for seven in reply to Australia’s 263, a lead of 53.

All-rounder Flintoff, the bowling hero of England’s 115-run second Test win at Lord’s and the star of the 2005 Ashes, fell shortly before tea in what he has said will be his final series in the five-day format.

Trying to withdraw the bat against off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and play no shot, he gloved to first slip Michael Clarke having shared rapid stands of 89 and 52 with Matthew Prior and Stuart Broad respectively.

Broad was 20 not out and Graeme Swann four not out at the interval.

With only a session and a day left in a match where the whole of Saturday’s play was washed out, Ashes holders Australia’s chances of levelling the five-match series ahead of next week’s fourth Test at Headingley were fading.

They did though put England on the backfoot earlier Sunday and the hosts were 168 for five, still 93 behind, when Flintoff joined Prior.

But by the time the sixth-wicket duo were separated they’d added 89 in 97 balls to take England to within sight of a first innings lead.

Flintoff, who made two fifties in the corresponding Ashes Test here four years ago, then pressed on and continued to play commendably straight.

England were 159 for four at lunch with Ian Bell, recalled in place of the injured Kevin Pietersen, 46 not out in front of his Warwickshire home crowd.

Bell completed a 96-ball fifty when he clipped improving left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson off his pads.

But having survived several close calls, Bell’s luck ran out on 53 when Johnson swung a ball back into his pads to have him lbw with veteran umpire Rudi Koertzen at last ruling in the bowler’s favour.

Johnson, who had struggled for line and length during the first two Tests, had taken one wicket for 12 runs in five overs.

Prior, who made a brisk fifty at Lord’s, revived the innings.

Flintoff followed up by cover-driving Ben Hilfenhaus, who before lunch had dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, to the boundary.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, with England 201 for five, brought all-rounder Shane Watson into the attack for the first time this match after an impressive spell of two for 38 in 14 overs from Hilfenhaus.

Watson, recalled after opener Phillip Hughes was dropped, had top-scored with 62 in Australia’s first innings.

However, the medium-pacer was driven for three fours in seven balls by rival all-rounder Flintoff.

Prior succumbed to fast bowler Peter Siddle when, on 41, he miscued a pull to substitute fielder Hughes at mid-on, with England six runs shy of Australia’s total. The wicket-keeper faced 59 balls with six fours.

Flintoff then levelled the scores in style with a straight six off Hauritz before sweeping the bowler for his seventh four to take England into the lead and bring up his own fifty in just 53 balls.

Broad, a left-hand bat, kept the runs coming from both ends with several stylish boundaries as England went from 200 to 300 in just 90 balls.

England resumed on 116 for two.

Strauss, who made a century at Lord’s, had added just five runs to his overnight 64 when, he was caught behind off Hilfenhaus by Test debutant wicket-keeper Graham Manou.

And, on the stroke of lunch, Hilfenhaus had Collingwood well caught at second slip by Ponting.

Australia’s collapse in the third Ashes Test has raised the chilling prospect that Ricky Ponting could become just the second Australian captain to lose two Ashes series in England, press said on Saturday.

Australia’s batsmen succumbed to the England swing duo of James Anderson and Graham Onions on Friday, losing seven wickets in the pre-lunch session to leave them precariously placed after the second day of the Edgbaston Test.

In reply England were 116 for two at close of play, a deficit of 147 runs after Australia had been bowled out for 263 from an overnight 126 for one.

Ponting showed no joy when he passed Allan Border to become his nation’s highest run scorer, The Australian said.

“It is an extraordinary feat. Allan Border was 38 and had played 156 Tests when he retired with a then world record 11,174 and an average of 50. Ponting, 34, has passed it in 134 Tests with an average of 56,” it said.

Ponting’s leadership was never needed as much as it is now, the newspaper said, with Australia “spooked” again by the swinging ball.

“Ricky Ponting stands proudly amongst the very finest players the game has produced but there is one telling record he is desperate to avoid,” The Australian’s Malcolm Conn said.

“Unless his team can show more than it has managed in the past one-and-a-half Tests, Ponting is in danger of becoming just the second captain of Australia to be in charge of two Ashes series defeats in England.

“The only other is Australia’s first touring captain, Billy Murdoch, well over a century ago.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Ben Dorries said Australia’s bid to claw their way back into Ashes contention from 1-0 down was in trouble as the 2005 (series) reverse swing Ashes nightmare returned.

“In scenes reminiscent of how Simon Jones got the old ball to swing around corners in 2005, Onions and Anderson wobbled the ball everywhere and both took their best figures against Australia,” he said.

Former Test spinner Greg Matthews said Australia’s batting display had been disappointing.

“They lost 7/77 in the first session. The last two pairs put on 60 runs when the ball was still swinging, so what’s going on there?” Matthews said on SBS TV.

Ponting tended to be denied the recognition he deserved for his batting achievements, The Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Roebuck said.

“The problem is simple. Whatever he does, he will remain the second-best number three Australia has produced,” the columnist wrote.

“Of course, it is absurd to put him or anyone else alongside Don Bradman, but that has been his fate. As a result, he tends to be denied some of the acclaim he deserves.”

Veteran ABC radio commentator Jim Maxwell said while Anderson and Onions swung the ball deceptively, in contrast Australia struggled to swing the ageing ball in England’s first innings.

England paceman James Anderson gave himself a belated birthday present by taking his Test-best figures against Australia here at Edgbaston on Friday.

Anderson, a classic swing bowler when conditions offer some assistance, took five wickets for 80 runs in 24 overs as Australia were bowled out for 263 on the second day of the third Ashes Test after resuming on 126 for one.

Fellow swing bowler Graham Onions got England off to a dramatic start by taking two wickets with the day’s first two balls, having Shane Watson lbw for his overnight 62 and removing Michael Hussey, playing no stroke, for a duck.

Anderson, a day after he turned 27, made sure pressure was applied from both ends by also taking two wickets in two balls to dismiss Marcus North and Mitchell Johnson.

In all on Friday, he took five for 35 runs in 14 overs, figures in marked contrast to the Lancashire quick’s miserable return on Thursday of none for 45 in 10 overs.

“We had a good long chat this morning when we got to the ground,” said Anderson.

“It swung yesterday (Thursday), we didn’t bowl enough balls in the right areas and ask the right questions.”

Anderson and Onions shared nine wickets between them Friday and that meant England captain Andrew Strauss did not have to over-bowl injury-prone spearhead quick Andrew Flintoff, who led the attack in a 115-run victory at Lord’s that put the hosts 1-0 up in the five-match series.”

“We bowled fantastically well all morning. We know it’s going to be a team effort throughout whole series,” Anderson said.

“More than one person chipped in at Lord’s but Fred (Flintoff) took the plaudits on the last day.”

As a succession of batsmen, including captain Ricky Ponting who in the course of his 38 broke Allan Border’s record of 11,174 for most Test runs by an Australian, came and went, questions were again raised about the supposed weakness of the world’s number one ranked side against the swinging ball.

However, Anderson said: “If the ball is swinging and you bowl well, most teams in world are going to have to play well to cope with it.”

England ended Friday on 116 for two, a deficit of 147, with Strauss – who made a century at Lord’s – again looking in fine form while making 64 not out.

“We are in a very good position,” said Anderson, now in his 40th Test.

“We’ve got to look to bat well and bat once. We’ve got a great chance to win this match.”

Anderson’s Test career has suffered from his not always being an automatic selection, with many questioning whether the seamer has the right character to impose himself on opposition batsmen.

His career bowling average against Australia is expensive, at over 46 runs per wicket.

But having bagged his first five-wicket haul against England’s oldest foes, Anderson was in confident mood.

“Australia are the number one in the world so to perform against them is a good way to see where you are at.

“Ottis Gibson (the England bowling coach) has done a fantastic job looking at footage of their guys and plans are working for us.

“I know I’ve been bowling well, a good ball will get a good batsman out in any form of cricket.”

Ponting said: “Those guys are good bowlers when it starts to swing, that’s why they are playing for England. They’re masters of their conditions.

“Both bowled exceptionally well and it was no fluke that one got five and one got four. The ball swung and our batsmen found it very difficult.”

Australia are likely to keep faith with struggling fast bowler Mitchell Johnson for the third Ashes Test against England, starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.

But Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he was planning to give the left-arm quick a different role to the one he’d played in the first two Tests.

Johnson arrived in England with the reputation of being the best pace bowler currently in world cricket.

But in the first two Tests of this series, Johnson has taken eight wickets for 331 runs at an expensive average of 41 apiece and conceded runs at a rate of four an over.

Johnson’s struggles continued during last week’s tour game against Northamptonshire, where he had figures of one for 107 from 18.1 overs.

He started to lose form during a poor spell with the new ball on the final afternoon of the first Test in Cardiff, where England clung on for a draw, and continued during the home side’s 115-run win in the second Test – Australia’s first Ashes defeat at Lord’s in 75 years.

Former captain Allan Border has been among those calling for Johnson to be dropped but Ponting said he wanted to use the 27-year-old as more of a strike, rather than stock, bowler.

“There has been a lot of talk about his technique and his action being all over the place,” Ponting told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have had some good close looks at that and it is actually not. I think right at the moment it is more of a confidence thing and we will probably look at him in this game playing in a slightly different way than I have in the last couple of games and use him more as a strike impact type of bowler.

“As we have seen anyway he has had the ability to strike for us and take wickets for us. That part of his game is still there.”

Asked if he ever considered dropping Johnson, Ponting replied: “No to tell you the truth”.

Pressed on whether his comments meant Johnson was now definitely in the third Test team, Ponting tried to back-track by saying Australia had still to finalise their XI. But the inference of his earlier remarks seemed clear.

However, with the accurate Stuart Clark waiting in the wings, the selectors may yet decide to make a change to their seam attack.

Former Australia captain Kim Hughes has blamed a public falling out between Johnson and the bowler’s mother, Vikki Harber, for the player’s loss of form.

Harber has accused Johnson’s fiancee, Jessica Bratich, of stealing her from him and said her son’s partner was more interested in money and fame than Johnson’s career.

Ponting admitted that there have been off-field issues for Johnson that have “probably not been making life any easier for him or us”.

But Johnson told Australia’s Woman’s Day magazine Harber was not to blame for his struggles out in the middle.

“It probably might seem, at this time, like things have been distracting me. I was a bit disappointed with what has been going on, but I don’t let things like that distract me,” Johnson said.

“Otherwise, you are thinking about what’s going on when you are in the field and you can’t focus.”

Meanwhile England captain Andrew Strauss insisted Johnson remained a dangerous opponent.

“He’s been a fantastic performer for a number of Tests, the last couple he’s had a bit of a lean trot,” Strauss told reporters.

“He obviously bowls wicket-taking deliveries.

“You can kind of see why he’s taken so many wickets in a short space of time. I think the more overs he bowls, the better he is going to get, it’s just a question for the Aussies as to whether they are going to play him or not.”

It is 12 years since Australia were 1-0 down in an Ashes series but Ponting said he took heart from the way they fought back in the Lord’s Test.

“That said a lot about the players and a lot about the Australian spirit. When we have a point to prove, it’s generally when our best stuff comes out.

“We have to be spot on because we have to win this one or the next one (the fourth Test at Headingley) if we want to win the Ashes.”

Edgbaston curator Steve Rouse says the pitch for the third Ashes Test would be a paradise for the pace bowlers and Australia would not need services of spinner Nathan Hauritz.

“With the conditions like this, Nathan Hauritz could be a waste. Australia should play four seamers I would think. You wouldn’t see a spinner doing an awful lot of work here unless he was good enough to tie an end down and not get carted for five or six an over.

“It doesn’t spin much here at all this year. Our spinners are going at 60 or 70 a wicket,” Rouse was quoted as saying by the ‘Australian’.

But Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has already said that he won’t be fooled by Rouse’s pitch report after being misled by a similar report in the 2005 Ashes series.

However, Rouse claimed that he is not playing any mind games and said it would still be a major gamble for Ponting to bowl first like he did in 2005.

“You have to be a brave person to bowl first, it can always backfire on you can’t it?” Rouse said.

“The forecast isn’t great, we have got showers right the way through the week and for at least the first three days of the Test. With the rain and the bad weather we’ve had, and we haven’t had any warm sunshine.

“There is a lot of moisture underneath. It will be a typical old-fashioned English seaming wicket. But good batters can adjust to the conditions and you don’t get to play for Australia or England if you can’t bat,” he added.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is set to get a Test recall as England named on Sunday a 13-man squad for next week’s third match of the Ashes series at his Edgbaston home ground.

Bell is set to replace Kevin Pietersen in the side that won the second Test against Australia at Lord’s by 115 runs to go 1-0 up in the series after the South Africa born batsman was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series with an Achilles injury.

Fast bowler Stephen Harmison and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar have also been added to the XI that played at Lord’s.

England selection chief Geoff Miller said: “The performance of the team at Lord’s was outstanding and a convincing win was well deserved.

“We have obviously had to make a change to the side following Kevin Pietersen’s unavailability and we wish Kevin the best with his rehabilitation and look forward to his return to the England team in due course.

“Kevin’s injury has presented an opportunity for Ian Bell who we know is a top-class batsmen with an excellent international record for England.

“Ian will be looking to make the most of his return to the side during an Ashes series and while we have a strong idea of where he will bat we won’t be disclosing the final line-up of the side until the toss on Thursday.”

Miller also said he was confident of the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, the fast-bowling all-rounder who led England’s attack at Lord’s despite a troublesome knee injury.

“Andrew Flintoff’s performance at Lord’s was truly memorable and we are hopeful he can take his place in the side for the third Test as he continues to manage his knee injury,” said Miller.

“Andrew and the medical staff are quite bullish about his prospects of playing but we’ll continue to monitor his progress in the days leading up to Thursday.”

Squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior (wkt), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar.

Andrew Flintoff has been retained while Ian Bell replaces Kevin Pietersen in the England squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia starting on Thursday at Edgbaston.

Flintoff, who will retire after the series, is battling a knee injury while Pietersen has been ruled out of the series after he underwent a surgery on his Achilles tendon. Bell’s inclusion in the eleven is likely to be the only change in the team that is 1-0 up in the series.

“Kevin’s injury has presented an opportunity for Ian Bell. The performance of the team at Lord’s was outstanding and a convincing win was well deserved. We have obviously had to make a change to the side following Kevin Pietersen’s unavailability and we wish Kevin the best with his rehabilitation and look forward to his return to the England team in due course,” said national selector Geoff Miller.

“But we know Ian Bell is a top-class batsmen with an excellent international record for England. Ian will be looking to make the most of his return to the side during an Ashes series and while we have a strong idea of where he will bat we won’t be disclosing the final line-up of the side until the toss on Thursday,” he added.

Bell will make a comeback in the side on his home ground after being dropped after the first Test in West Indies. For Bell it will be fresh challenge after having failed in the 10 Ashes Tests during which he scored just 502 runs.

Miller hoped that Flintoff will be fit in time for the third Test.

“Andrew Flintoff’s performance at Lord’s was truly memorable and we are hopeful he can take his place in the side for the third Test as he continues to manage his knee injury,” Miller said.

“Andrew and the medical staff are quite bullish about his prospects of playing but we’ll continue to monitor his progress in the days leading up to Thursday. Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar both provide us with cover and exciting options within the bowling attack,” he said.

The squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graeme Onions, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar.

Stuart Clark insisted his extra bounce could help Australia in their quest to draw level in the Ashes series during next week’s third Test against England at Edgbaston.

The 33-year-old seamer was overlooked for the first two Tests of the series, including England’s 115-run second Test win at Lord’s.

That match saw Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson struggling for line and length.

And while Clark took two top order wickets against Northamptonshire here on Saturday in the tourists’ lone match between the second and third Tests, Johnson’s seven wicketless overs cost 42 runs.

Now fully fit following an elbow injury, Clark played in both of Australia’s pre-Ashes tour matches against Sussex and the England Lions.

Despite being reduced to 12th man duties in the Ashes so far, he believes he could be the man to help Australia take 20 wickets – something they’ve so far yet to manage in a first-class match this tour.

“I’m older and I get the ball to bounce a little bit more (than the other Australia bowlers), being a little bit taller,” Clark said. “That’s probably my biggest weapon on these wickets. It can make you a handful.”

Australia have also had to do without Brett Lee, their fastest bowler, in the Test series because of a rib injury which is set to keep him out of action at Edgbaston as well.

There had been speculation that Clark might have been included in the drawn Ashes opener at Cardiff, where Johnson’s poor spell with the new ball late on the final day helped England cling on for a draw with one wicket standing.

“I was disappointed and I suppose surprised,” Clark said of being omitted at in Cardiff.

“I was not given any guarantee I was going to play, and the selectors went with a combination they thought would get them 20 wickets.

“If given the opportunity to play again, it is an Australian cricketer’s dream to play Tests against England in England.

“I’ve sat on the sidelines and watched, and it’s been pretty hard to do that for two Test matches.

“I may have to watch for the next three – but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I control my destiny,” said Clark, a veteran of 22 Tests.

Australia ended the second day of their three-day match against Northamptonshire on 139 without loss in their second innings, a lead of 221.

Opening batsman Phillip Hughes, whose difficulties in the two Tests so far have been almost as much of a concern as those of Johnson, did at least have the consolation of being 65 not out.

Stand-in opener Andrew McDonald, yet to play in the Ashes, was 69 not out.

However, Hughes – dropped on 28 – was once again troubled by the short ball.

Northamptonshire’s first innings of 226 for seven declared saw Australia quick Peter Siddle take three wickets while Alex Wakely (62) and Riki Wessels (50) starred for the home side.

Australia middle-order batsman Marcus North, whose place could be under threat after fit-again pace bowling all-rounder Shane Watson made 84 on Friday, could only add seven to his overnight 32 before he was caught in the covers off left-arm quick David Lucas.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is determined not to be fooled by Edgbaston’s ‘jelly’ pitch report that similarly had ruined their Ashes dreams four years ago and said he would better wait and watch this time.

In 2005 Ashes Tests, Ponting was flayed for bowling first without injured pacer Glenn McGrath after concerns that heavy rain would make the pitch a minefield.

Four years down the lane, Ponting finds himself in a similar situation with Edgbaston’s groundsman Steve Rouse claiming that heavy rain has delayed the preparation of the pitch for the third Test and the wicket is a bit like a jelly.

But the Australian skipper said this time he will assess the pitch early next week before forming any notion.

“That’s what we got told last time. That’s the reason we ended up bowling first in 2005,” Ponting was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

“We were told exactly the same thing for the week leading up. There had been a cyclone and a tornado that had gone through Birmingham and wicket preparation was miles behind.

“It was overcast on that day so we won the toss and bowled. And the thing (the ball) didn’t move off the straight for the whole day.

“I’m not sure I’ll be falling for that one this time around. We’ll wait and see,” added the Australian skipper.

Ponting is currently on a three-day tour match against Northampton county team and would travel to Birmingham with the side tomorrow night after the match.

“We’ll have a look first thing Monday,” Ponting said of the pitch.

“It will be a good opportunity to have a look at the wicket and see how far advanced the preparation is and then hopefully, we’ll be able to make a more accurate forecast once we’re there.

“Last time around we probably got a bit carried away with what we heard and not going so much on the cold, hard facts of what we saw.

“The wicket looked OK there last time but with the overhead conditions, that’s what most captains here usually look at on the day. I’ve probably got a bit more experience with that this time around,” he added.