Salvage job becoming the norm on final day

FOR the second time in this series, England have hung on to secure a draw with one wicket to spare, invoking memories of other last-day escapes.

• England v South Africa – Third Test, Old Trafford, 1998

After South Africa had piled on the runs before declaring on 552 for five, England capitulated in their reply to be bowled out for just 183 and were asked to follow on. Needing to bat out five sessions to save the Test match not even Alec Stewart's seven-hour stay, which yielded 164, looked enough to save them when No 11 Angus Fraser joined Robert Croft with 20 minutes left to play. South Africa quick Allan Donald was in full flow but Croft – who batted for just over three hours – and Fraser stood firm to claim an invaluable draw as England went on to clinch the series 2-1.

• England v Sri Lanka – First Test, Galle, December 2003

Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan tormented England's batsmen in the opening Test of the series, claiming figures of seven for 46 in the first innings. On a turning final-day Galle wicket he completed his ten-wicket match haul before removing Richard Johnson with just 19 balls left to set up a pulsating finish. That brought Matthew Hoggard to the crease and the Yorkshireman saw his side home in partnership with Ashley Giles to keep the series level.

• England v Australia – Third Test, Old Trafford, 2005

After their thrilling two-run win in the previous Test at Edgbaston a buoyant England had the chance to go 2-1 ahead in the series, needing ten wickets on the final day. With wickets falling around him at regular intervals Australia captain Ricky Ponting batted for just shy of seven hours to make 156, but when he was caught behind off Steve Harmison with 20 minutes left it looked like his innings would be in vain. Glenn McGrath, a genuine No 11, strode to the crease and with Brett Lee saw Australia home for a draw.

• West Indies v England – Third Test, Antigua, 2009

Trailing 1-0 in the series, new England captain Andrew Strauss had given his bowlers five sessions to bowl out the hosts, but they fell agonisingly short when last-wicket pair Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards negotiated the final half hour to earn a draw that would prove vital as they won the series 1-0.

• England v Australia – First Test, Cardiff, 2009

Australian fans will remember the sometimes questionable time-wasting tactics of the hosts but Englishmen will long savour a 69-ball stand of defiance – as well as some questionable bowling changes that let the two tail-enders, James Anderson and Monty Panesar, off the hook.