Match in the balance after Siddle's 4

Peter Siddle's 4-wicket haul on the first day at the Oval restricted England to a below-par 332. Ian Bell's 72 was the highlight of the England innings, who after being 176-2 would have been hoping for a score of over 400.

Siddle finished with figures of 4-75, his second best return of the series after an emphatic 5-21 in the first innings at Headingley. There were 3 wickets for the series' leading wicket-taker Ben Hilfenhaus, and two for Mitchell Johnson, who once again was the most expensive and less threatening of the 4 seam bowlers. Jonathan Trott's wicket came courtesy of some sharp work by Simon Katich at silly point - Trott going for 41, an impressive start to his Test career.

With the pitch being described as the worst at the Oval in over 20 years, a result seems increasingly likely. There was sharp turn on the first day for Marcus North, only a part-time off-spinner don't forget. Graeme Swann, therefore, should be able to exploit the substantial rough outside the right and left-hander's off-stump.

If England are to fight back and win from this position, their bowling has to be immaculate. Swann will need some wickets for his confidence, and to answer the few growing critics that he has, while Andrew Flintoff will no doubt be pumped up in his final Test match outing.