Australia has put a stranglehold on the First Test of the 2009 Ashes series, setting up a fifth day where England have to bat all day with only eight wickets in hand and only scattered rain predicted.

Starting the day five for 479 with a lead of 44 runs over England’s first innings of 435, with Marcus North on 54 and Brad Haddin on 4, the two batted through the morning session and most of the middle session as well, to completely put the game beyond England’s reach.

When Haddin (121) was out after slogging to all parts of the boundary, eventually caught by Ravi Bopara off Paul Collingwood, captain Ricky Ponting called Haddin and North (125 not out) in to declare at seven for 675, a total of 239 runs ahead on the first innings.

Some commentators thought the declaration slightly premature, but Ponting was vindicated first by his bowlers and then by the conditions. After looking scratchy in his early overs, Mitchell Johnson trapped Alastair Cook (6) in front with a slightly slower straight ball, then Ben Hilfenhaus extracted a second leg before wicket decision to dismiss Bopara (1) with a delivery that looked a little high.

At the tea break the long-forecast rain for the day finally arrived, and play was eventually abandoned for the day with England 2/20 and staring an innings defeat in the face on the fifth day.