Rain appears the only factor that can save England, as legspinner Shane Warne returned to renew his dominance over his old rival in the first Ashes cricket Test at Lord's.

Warne (3-46) took three wickets after tea on day three and paceman Brett Lee 2-58 in his comeback Test to leave England at 5-156 and needing a miracle.

The home side needs another 264 runs to win.

Kevin Pietersen, who made 42 not out after making 57 in his debut innings, and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (six not out) need an extraordinary partnership if England is to get close to pulling off the greatest run-chase in Test history.

But rain, which is forecast on Sunday, appears a far more realistic hope for England, which still has two days to play and Warne's prodigious spin to negotiate.

Warne's three wickets gave him 588 in Test cricket and 94 in England, and it was clear he still had the powers to mystify English batsmen.

He had Marcus Trescothick (44) caught at slip, completely fooled youngster Ian Bell (eight) with one that went straight on and then had danger man Andrew Flintoff (three) caught behind in the space of 31 balls.

"I was happy with my shape, I had good drift and good spin for a third-day wicket or halfway through day three, and I was pretty happy with the spin and bounce I was getting," Warne told Channel Four.

"At the moment I'm pretty happy with the way they're coming out.

"I can always tell with my shape if I'm getting that drift and getting that spin like that on a two-and-a-half, three-day wicket then I think they're coming out OK."

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