Colly flowers to plant seed of hope

Brisbane, First Test, Fourth Day: England 157 & 293/5 (Collingwood 96, Pietersen 92*; Warne 4-108) v Australia 602/9 dec. & 202/1 dec. (Langer 100*, Ponting 60*)

Whisper it quietly but maybe, just maybe, England can snatch parity from the jaws of humiliation.

With rain forecast and half their wickets in hand there's the slimmest of chances that England can draw the First Test and turn the heat back on their hosts.

Alastair Cook (43), Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood - who fell just four runs short of his maiden Ashes century - restored some much needed pride and ensured the game went into a fifth day.

    

With Pietersen unbeaten overnight and eight runs shy of three figures all is not lost, but with the new ball imminent and Shane Warne in the wickets it'll take a monumental effort to save the game.

Also essential to England's hopes of drawing the match are Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles, who have a chance to prove their critics wrong, and justify coach Duncan Fletcher's faith in their batting ability.

As for England winning the Test? Dream on ... a mere 355 more runs at about four an over!

Catch the fourth day's highlights tonight on BBC Two at 11:10, and listen to live coverage of day five on Radio 4 198LW and the
BBC Sport website from midnight.