Day five

Rain? Who needs it.

England survived for a draw, albeit very much a losing draw, mainly down to the grit and determination of Paul Collingwood. Resuming at 20 for 2, it didn't look like it would last too long and the middle order did their damnedest to chuck away their wickets once again. Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior both got out cutting against the spin when cramped for room - needless shots given the match situation - which left Collingwood to see things out with the tail once Andrew Flintoff edged an unusually out of sorts Mitchell Johnson to Ricky Ponting in the slips.

Collingwood was a picture of determination, batting for nearly six hours for his 74, but got out with England six runs short of making the Australians bat again and with just Monty Panesar left in the hutch. Despite the crowd rising as one to salute his knock, Collingwood was clearly upset, head down as he stalked back to the dressing room. This was after Stuart Broad, who got a bit of shooter from Nathan Hauritz to trap him leg before, and Graeme Swann had both departed. Swann 'needed treatment' twice after being struck by Peter Siddle as England deployed some delaying tactics, much to the chagrin of Ponting who had a face like thunder. I defy him to say he wouldn't do likewise in the same situation.

So for the last forty minutes of the game, James Anderson and Monty Panesar were all that stood between Australia and a 1-0 lead. Monty showed some never-before-seen adhesiveness and Anderson made it 50 Test knocks without a duck and never before has either played such a crucial knock. Anderson made 21 from 53 balls, Panesar 7 from 35, eventually pushing England past the Australian total and securing the draw.

Relief all round then, but there's lots to do before Lord's and not much time to do it in. The match starts on Thursday and England need to address many things. Not giving wickets away would be a start. How many got out to good balls in the whole game? Not bloody many. Prior in the first innings, Broad and Swann in the second perhaps. Ravi Bopara got a duff call in the second too, but far too many were rash shots or poor decision making. The captaincy issue hasn't been addressed either. Strauss didn't or couldn't mix it up or come up with plans of attack. As such, England drifted at times in the field, making it too easy for Australia's batsmen. The bowlers got nothing out of a dead pitch, and those not involved are the ones whose stock has risen as a result of this game. Change should be resisted. The Lord's pitch will offer more than this one and the thought of Steve Harmison trudging through another Test fills me with dread. Graham Onions in next in line should England go with one spinner, though the spinning role is perhaps the major job up for grabs - neither Swann not Panesar covered themselves in glory, not with the ball anyway, while Adil Rashid was busy bowling Durham out.

Lots to do then, but at least Glenn McGrath's 5-0 prediction was wrong.