The England bowling attack for once was bereft of ideas and the only moment of any note was a spectacular one-handed diving catch by James Anderson which dismissed North for 96. Earlier on in the innings Hussey and Watson batted out a third-wicket partnership of 85 in the morning session which proved set the tone for the Aussie innings for the day.

The seam attack of Graham Onions and Flintoff although providing a few scares to the Australian batsmen proved ultimately ineffective as did unusually, England off-spinner Graeme Swann. The only successes coming from Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara.

When Tea was taken with Australia  on 293 for four the  draw was  looking  inevitable and indeed not long after the two captains duly agreed .With a day lost to rain and the Australians never looking likely to win this the third in the series of the 2009, there only option was for them to play for a draw.

If there was any doubt left in the England cricketers minds that this Australian team were capable of holding on to the Ashes these have now been banished. No previous Aussie team would have been content to play out their innings for a draw like this one and the once vaunted Australian invincibility has been shattered. If it had not been for the vagaries of the English weather, England would probably have been two up in the series. Bring on Headingly!

Katich (46) eventually fell to Graeme Swann England ‘spinner but Watson got 62 at the close with his wicket intact. His innings had included 10 fours, with his captain Ricky Ponting on 17. All did not go Australia’s way however, their wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, named in the side at the toss, was an early loss when he sustained a finger injury in practice without taking to the fields. The Australians’s had to ask the permission of England to replace him with Manou.

Flintoff, Anderson and Onions rarely threatened the Aussie batsmen and England’s captain Strauss, brought Swann into the attack and he immediately rewarded him as he struck in his first over, trapping Katich lbw for 46.

It looks like the English weather will continue to have a major impact on the 2009 Ashes – let’s hope we can enjoy a full day’s play tomorrow, although somehow I have my doubts

Strauss, whose side already hold the advantage of being 1-0 up after two matches, believes that the  Australia team they are facing are  no different to any other Test side. Kevin Pietersen, who is missing out on the rest of this Ashes series due to injury, has already said of the Australians they  “do not have the presence and personalities of the previous teams we played”.

He has a point what can an Australian  team shorne of the likes of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath offer? Strauss harking back to the disasterous former 2006-07 Ashes Test said  “ At the back of our minds we wondered whether [Adam] Gilchrist would blast a hundred or Warne would take five wickets from nowhere. Australia had that and I don’t feel that is where they are at the moment. That is not being disrespectful to the team they have because they have a lot of very good players. They are at the start of their Test careers and, by definition, they do not have an aura about them. It does not mean we are any more likely to beat them, but it feels like you are playing against any other Test team.”

The England cricket team have had the further excellent news that the iconic Andrew Flintoff has responded well to treatment to his right knee.Additionally Ian Bell and Graham Onions have overcome injury scares and have been declared fit.

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain poured cold water on this claim, suggesting  that Strauss had changed his tune since England  great escape with a draw in less than three weeks ago. Hes said “It is OK for Andrew to say that now,” I am not sure he was saying that after Cardiff. I think we had it well and truly over most of their batsmen down there. Aura is built up over a period of time and we have some fresh faces who are just starting to find their feet at international level. The aura of a side changes and comes about with performances. If we put in a performance here, then England may be thinking slightly differently at the end of the game.”

When Pointing was asked if  England carry an aura,he said: “I don’t see how else you can do it without winning everything and being on top. England’s current Test rating would probably indicate they don’t have one.”

A lot of Aussie pundits back home have put down their cricket teams’ lack of spirit to being under orders to cut out the sledging but Strauss believes that the sledging issue has been over exagerated and said  “When we played Australia before, there were instances of it, but it was not widespread I just think guys who have played four or five Test matches probably do not carry as much weight when they say something to you. It is only after a long period of performances, both individual and team, that they have that ability to scare opposition teams.”

England will  not be retaining the services of Monty Panesar for this test,  a decision heavily influenced by the  rain that has fallen in the Birmingham area.The Australians have advised that there will not be wholesale changes in the team and that it is likely that the off form Mitchell Johnson will keep his place.Ponting said “There has certainly been a lot of attention focused on Mitchell from everyone, but I am a bit more worried about the weather than anything else to tell the truth.”.

Strauss has vowed there will be no hiding place for the respite for the left-arm pace bowler, saying: “In Test cricket there is no time for sympathy. If an opposition bowler is struggling, you do not want to give him confidence by getting out to him.”

Ponting also believes he has spotted a weak spot in the England team  “I have listened a lot to Ian [Bell] this week talking about his record against Australia not being as good as against other teams. There is a great opportunity for us to get into their middle order” he said.

Well the ten day lay off is now over and it is time to get back to more 2009 Ashes action with two more back to back Test’s to look forward to. Let battle recommence !

The Aussie selectors must surely now be thinking of bringing on the possible replacements Watson and Clark.

Clark, bowling with the new ball for Australia, was particularly effective with figures of 2-26 from eight overs. The selectors would have been impressed with his control to extract sharp bounce from the wicket.

Watson had already made 84 with the bat on the first day, put in a good bowling performance as a timely reminder to that he is a true  all rounder.

There is still another day to go with plenty of time for those Australian cricketers on the fringes of the Ashes test squad to put down a marker and make it to the full team.

Vaughan, the one that knows him best having captained the 27 year old when in charge of the England team says of him “He has done well in Test cricket and averages 40 (40.59)’ If he just relaxes and plays he’s got so much talent. He should just play it in his natural way.”

The right-hander Bell has been in good form for his county, Warwickshire this season and will be on home ground if selected to play in the team against the Aussies. On his day he is an elegant and fluid batsmen, however he struggled with his form against the Australians in the famous 2005 Ashes win. Conversely he was one of the few England cricket players to emerge from the 2006/07 Ashes tour In Australia – 2006/2007with any credit. But his poor form in India last year carried into the first test in the West Indies in February, led to him being dropped.

Bell will no doubt want to prove himself quickly, but he must not to put himself under too much pressure. He must take a leaf out of the book some of England’s other cricketer’s, play himself in and not force the game but let it come to him. He must follow the example of Paul Collingwood, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Prior. They are all playing in an almost Australian style, with freedom and fearlessness.

The stage is set and Ian Bell, has a great chance  to set the record straight –  he would be playing on his home ground with England 1-0 up in the 2009 Ashes series. You really can’t get any better than that!