Play start is delayed by 15 minutes because of a visit by the Queen.

I'm really not surprised about Australia dropping Cowan.

Cook out for 12

Root out for 6

Petersen out for 2

28 for 3

I had a suspicion this would happen and I would have put Australia in to bat.

Cook looked to be hitting the ball well in the first couple of overs - until Clarke changed his bowlers around.

Potential disaster!

England reached 80 for 3 by lunch.

Trott for 58

England 127 for 4

It's Ryan Harris causing the damage, so far 3 wickets for 25 runs.

Bairstow reprieved on 21 on a hair-line decision. He was comprehensively bowled but it turned out to be a no-ball (by a fraction) from Siddle.

England 183 for 4 at tea.

Bell currently on 62 and Bairstow on 28.

Incidentally the reason why I earlier posted that I would have put Australia in to bat is because of the slope at Lords. Quite a number of the Australians would not have played at Lords before so would be unfamilar with this and on previous test matches, the slope has caused all sorts of problems for those unfamilar with Lords. However the Australians will become used to the pitch by observing the English players in their first innings.

Blowers: Bairstow’s innings here last year got him on the flight to India and New Zealand.

Boycott: It didn’t do him any good he never played – he carried the drinks! He was a Waiter that batted in the nets – good work if you can get it!

Astonished that Bell is playing his 90^th Test! If ever there was a good example of persevering with a young player through lean times early in his career until he matured; Bell must be it!

Bell out for 109

England 271 for 5

Bairstow out for 67

England 274 for 6

Prior out for 6

England 283 for 7

Boos from the crowd when the next England player walked out as they haven't really forgiven Broad not walking i the first test.

Oops - it's not Broad, it's Anderson come out at night watchman and the crowd realise they've been booing the man who got 10 wickets and won the match for England.

Close of play 289 for 7

Bresnan currently on 7 and Anderson on 4.

The Australians are in front but anything could happen tomorrow.

350 would be decent from this position, but after electing to bat – and on this pitch; I’m sure Cook would have been looking at 400 as a minimum total.

Bresnan out for 7

Anderson out for 12

England 313 for 9

Broad and Swann the last two in

Swann out for 28, Broad left on 33

England all out for 361.

Commentators say that pitch is improving for batting conditions for today and tomorrow so England bowlers will have to be at their best else Australia will get a big lead.

Just before the lunch break Watson was out lbw for 30 leaving Australia 42 for 1 at lunch.

Rogers out for 15

Hughes out for 1

Australia currently 59 for 3

So on a comparison with England, Australia have about twice the number of runs as England did at the fall of the third wicket stage which would indicate that Australia should get about 700 for the first innings.

But somehow I think that's unlikely

Khawaja out for 14

Australia 69 for 4

Smith out for 2 brilliantly caught by Bell

Australia 86 for 5

Clarke out for 28.

Australia 91 for 6.

And this is on a good batting pitch

Agar now in and is going to have a repeat of his first innings in the first Test.

Agar out for 2

Australia 96 for 7

Siddle out for 2

Australia 104 for 8

Although Australia may fall short of the 162 runs needed to avoid the follow on, the radio commentators don't think England will enforce it and will aim to get such a commanding lead that the Australians have no chance of getting a win.

Haddon out for 7

Australia 104 for 9

Harris out for 10

Australia all out for 128 with Pattonson the not out batsman on 10

Swann's bowling figures 5 wickets for 44 runs.

England are not enforcing the follow on.

Cook out for 8

England 22 for 1

Trott out for a duck

England 22 for 2

Petersen out for 5

England 30 for 3

Siddle has 3 wickets for 4 runs

Bresnan has been sent in at night watchman.

Close of play England 31 for 3.

16 wickets fell today on a good batting pitch

Even with the success of Siddle late in the day - Australia are in big trouble with England effectively 264/3.

Joe Root could do with a big score today.

England have progressed to get to the 100 without further loss and Root is currently on 55.

England 114 for 3 at lunch with a lead of 347 runs.

Root on 63 and Bresnan on 32.

Bresnan eventually out for 38 with England on 129 for 4.

Bell adjudged not out on a catch on a really contentious umpiring decision which Boycott says that Bell not walking is against the spirit of play fair and Erasmus's umpire decision is poor.

Joe Root has just got his hundred. Youngest player to get a hundred in an Ashes test at Lords.

England currently 178 for 4 with a lead of 411 runs

Bell out for 74

England 281 for 5 with a lead of 514 runs

Root still in on 144