England vs Australia 4th Test at Headingley - Aug 07-11

Leeds: The 1-0 advantage established by England at Lord's looks all the more intimidating after the rain-effected draw at Edgbaston.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting revealed on Thursday details of a heated exchange he had with an England supporter during the third Test and said the incident could have been avoided with better security.

Ponting, who has been booed by England supporters during the Ashes series, felt a line had been crossed from goodhearted pantomime-like booing when a spectator at Edgbaston Sunday abused him as he returned to the pavilion after he had been bowled by Graeme Swann for five.

Andrew Flintoff will won't he saga is likely to drag on until the coin toss on Friday, but even if Flintoff doesn't play, his presence will be felt throughout the match. The versatility of Flintoff has been highlighted by England's move to effectively name three replacements for him. Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison could slot in should England require a fast bowling option, while Jonathan Trott could make his Test debut if an extra batsman is needed.

Team news

England: It all comes down to Flintoff. Should the enigmatic all-rounder be deemed fit, England are favoured to ignore calls for Stuart Broad's axing and retain the same line-up from Edgbaston. If he is ruled out, selectors must decide between Sidebottom, Harmison and Trott, although none will provide Flintoff's all-round balance.

Squad (probable): Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

Australia: Injuries have also blighted Australia's build-up to the fourth Test. Michael Clarke missed Wednesday's training session with an abdominal strain, but is considered likely to play. The most complex scenario, as ever, concerns the fast bowling group. Ponting hinted after the Edgbaston Test that Siddle's profligacy could bode well for Stuart Clark or Brett Lee, and both senior pacemen looked solid during Wednesday's net session. Clark should have the front-running given his strong recent form in Australia's tour matches, while Lee has not played a game since the England Lions encounter prior to the first Test

Squad (probable): Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Stuart Clark.

Pitch and conditions
Headingley is famous for it's swinging conditions and this time it promises to be no different. The forecast for the match looks good with plenty of cloud cover-which should help the seam bowlers to hoop the ball around- If the pitch has a greenish tinge to it then run-making will be a exercise in pain. Light rain is expected on days 2 and 3 of the match, which should not be a cause for concern at all. 

Stats and trivia

• If history is to be any guide, this promises to be a keenly contested Test. Australia's record at Headingley stands at eight wins, seven losses and eight draws, while England have won 30, lost 21 and drawn 17. England recorded a six-wicket victory in the last Ashes Test played here in 2001.
• Yorkshire have played four first class matches at Headingley this year, three of which resulted in draws.
• Australia must win their final two matches in England to retain their No. 1 Test ranking, but recent history suggests that may prove a difficult task. Australia have won just five of their past 15 Tests, dating back to their most recent tour of India.
• Ricky Ponting slipped to ninth in the Test batting rankings this week, but returns to a gournd at which he has enjoyed tremendous success in the past. Ponting has scored 343 runs at 114.33 in two matches at Headingley, including two centuries.
• Only three Test of draws in the last 26 matches played here dating back to 1980.
• In last five occasions Australia won 3, while England 2 at Headingley.

Match facts
Friday, August 7 - Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Start time 11.00 (10.00 GMT)

Highlights of the match