In the end England had a lead of 12 runs when the match was called off.
England were 169 for seven at tea - still needing 70 more runs to avoid an innings defeat and so prevent Ashes-holders Australia from going 1-0 up in the five-Test series in emphatic style.
Paul Collingwood was out for 74 caught at gully off Siddle and Australia almost had the match in the bag. But the last pair held on to save the match.
England, at lunch, had been 102 for five. Collingwood was 35 not out and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff unbeaten on 11.
After lunch, they both looked to be getting down to the task at hand.
But a stand of 57 was ended when Flintoff fell on 26 to the first ball he faced after the drinks break.
England's 2005 Ashes hero opened the face of his bat against left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and was caught low down at second slip by Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Stuart Broad, who survived a close lbw appeal from Johnson first ball, was plumb lbw to Nathan Hauritz for 14 as the off-spinner, much-maligned before the start of this match, took his third wicket of the day and sixth of the Test.
Collingwood held firm to complete a 167-ball fifty but his was a lone hand.
Earlier, star batsman Kevin Pietersen had taken his overnight score from three to eight when, trying to leave a delivery from paceman Ben Hilfenhaus, he got into an awkward position and was bowled off-stump just 16 minutes into the day's play.
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