England Maintain Momentum

England closed to within 113 runs of an innings lead over a fighting Australia on the second day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Mitchell Johnson did his best to keep Australia alive in the final Ashes Test with a vital half-century and two key wickets, but England were handily placed on 3/167 in reply to the host’s 280.

The single flat period of the day for England came when Australia's ninth-wicket pair of Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, put on 76 in 15 overs. Johnson once again showed how useful he is with the bat, which could see him being called up higher in the innings in the next test series.

Johnson cut loose early in the afternoon as he launched Graeme Swann over midwicket for four, followed by six and then brought up his fifty with a nudge into the leg side which was greeted by huge roars.

Bresnan broke through when Johnson missed an expansive drive and Anderson removed Hilfenhaus for his fourth wicket and 21st scalp of the series. However, those late-order runs could yet prove a vital factor in result of this match, and with it the series.

Andrew Strauss made his series winning intentions clear, heading out to notch up an aggressive 58-ball 60 to launch England's reply.

In the 23rd over Strauss got a superb ball from Hilfenhaus, bowled from around the wicket, which swung in and seamed away only a touch to nip his off stump.

England’s ascension was hampered somewhat with the loss of both Strauss and Jonathan Trott in quick succession to leave England 2 /99 and memories of Perth, where Johnson had sparked a dramatic England collapse, were not far off.

Michael Beer's first ball in Test cricket was dispatched by Kevin Pietersen, but despite the sickening disappointment of seeing a maiden Test wicket denied by a no-ball call, he held himself together well.

Beer was celebrating what he thought was his first test wicket, when Cook on 45 skied to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep mid-on, only for umpire Billy Bowden to ask for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball.

The spinner was proved to have overstepped and Cook stayed.

Pietersen once again showed weakness in being able to stick around- attempting to take on a resurgent Mitchell Johnson before being caught at deep backward square going for the maximum.

 Jimmy Anderson was left to survive the late Australian bombardment of away swing and short pitched bowling.

"It's pretty evens-stevens, it's slightly in our favour, it's a real tough one to call," Anderson said.

"We have a crucial morning session tomorrow to get through and hopefully we can get up towards them and then get a decent lead."

England are now odds on to win the match, however Australia’s bowling line-up were looking dangerous towards the end of the day’s play.

Alistair Cook is favourite to top-score here for England, however one would imagine that players that have not yet had any of the limelight- cue Collingwood and Bell (both at 8/1) - will most certainly be looking to make their mark on an historic series.