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BRISBANE - An overdue England fightback made for a welcome change in the first Ashes test at the Gabba yesterday, but Australia are still headed for a big win.
The Barmy Army finally found voice as England launched a brave counter-assault against Australia on the fourth day, after three days of battering from the home side.
The tourists reached 293 for five in their second innings at stumps, after Paul Collingwood made 96 and Kevin Pietersen 92 not out after taking calculated risks that produced thrilling results.
England remained 385 runs shy of a remote victory target.
However, with victory out of the question from day one, England must now hope Pietersen can orchestrate a performance that betters his heroics from the Oval last year, and that forecast thunderstorms arrive earlier than expected.
Although Collingwood and captain Andrew Flintoff both paid the price for taking their adventurous batting too far, the sight of the tourists going out swinging made a great change to what had been a lopsided start to the series.
Collingwood and Pietersen abandoned the cautious route after tea and the results were dazzling in a 153-run stand at better than a run a minute.
The pair were prepared to take all of Australia's bowlers on and the brave stand came to an end only when Collingwood chanced his arm one time too many and was stumped off Shane Warne's bowling, four runs short of his century.
Warne finished with figures of four for 108 despite a mixed day at the office, as he bowled several loose balls and full tosses, but benefited from England's profligacy.
Australia also experienced a major injury scare, as captain Ricky Ponting did not field because of a back injury he suffered while batting during the first half hour of the day.
The injury has Ponting in doubt for the second Ashes test in Adelaide.
He required some treatment during his 24 minutes at the crease and stayed in the dressing room to receive more treatment.
With the second test starting in Adelaide on Friday, Ponting may be facing a battle to make a full recovery to ensure he can last the five days.
It's understood team management do not believe the injury will threaten his availability but a more definitive assessment will be made today.
He suffered a similar problem during the second test of the 2004 tour of Sri Lanka but he played out the series.
Yesterday, vice-captain Adam Gilchrist took charge in Ponting's absence. Veteran bowler Glenn McGrath also spent time off the ground to have a heel problem treated.
Warne claimed his fourth wicket when Flintoff, on 16, attempted to slog over mid wicket but got it wrong and picked out Justin Langer at deep mid on.
Pietersen's counter-attacking was reminiscent of the Ashes-winning century he struck in the final test at the Oval last year, and even included a heated exchange with his friend Warne, who at one stage hurled the ball back at the batsman's head.
Pietersen deflected the ball away with his bat and then gave Warne a serve.
Warne's wicket of Flintoff gave him 300 test wickets in Australia. He's the first man to achieve that mark.
Ponting and Langer batted on at the start of the day so the veteran opener, who finished on 100 not out, could reach his century.
Ponting, who made 60 not out, declared at 202 for one, which set England a victory target of 678.
Australia looked like they could wrap up the match early after removing Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell cheaply, and England were 43 for two at lunch.
- AAP
