My picks of the third day:
Australian duo Michael Hussey (195) and Brad Haddin (136) were the dictators of the day and match so far hammering England with a record partnership of 307. The mammoth sixth wicket stand wasn't ended until after tea with Hussey falling first against Graeme Swann (450-6) and Haddin following soon after against Steven Finn (458-7). James Anderson and Stuart Broad drew the most frustrated picture of the bowling lot with close shouts but nothing going their way after England had used up their reviews early in the innings. Swann and Finn finished the lot, getting Australia all out for 481 and a lead of 221. England ended the day unscathed on 19-0 after 15 overs, but have a huge mointain to climb on day four if they want to avoid defeat.
Run of play: Advantage to...
1st session, Australia 327 for 5, 67 ahead, at lunch: All Australia. England were close, but not close, nearly there but not there, close calls but no wickets. Hussey and Haddin riding the show, some brilliant and beautiful cricket. England need a wonder to spare them from total embarrassment!
2nd session, Australia 436 for 5, 176 ahead, at tea: Australia on top - to put it quite slightly/mildly! 107 runs, 0 wickets in this session. They couldn't have wished for anything better from Hussey and Haddin - dream partnership, HuHa, just a little bit!
3rd session, Australia 481 all out, 221 ahead, England 19-0, 202 behind, at the end of day three: Fine last session for England, finally finishing Australia off, 5 wickets for only 45 runs from it. The visitors survived early scares including a review and ended the day without losing an early wicket. They will have to emulate Australia's innings and neede a BIG BIG partnership on day four if they want to be in it with a shout.
Partnerships: Hussey and Haddin put on a Gabber record, hammering in a partnership of 307, the fifth best in any Test, 39 runs behind Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton at Melbourne in 1937. They didn't have an easy start to the early morning though, Anderson tormenting them with the second new ball of the innings and with cracks emerging on the surface. But after overcoming those early scares, they looked indestructible with one beautiful boundary after another. These two men are the difference between the two sides so far. They put on a show-and-a-half, unforgettable, they certainly entered their names into the legend books. Especially the older of the too will be the happier, Hussey having had to listen to many doubters whether he could still bring it - well, he has certainly answered that question!
Bowling: Anderson was the man of the moment in the early session. He looked like he was going to grab the Aussies and drag them out by their hair. In the end the hair ripped, decisions went against the bowler and Hussey and Haddin took over. Anderson and co grew more and more frustrated, Broad and Finn having forgettable innings, being hit around left, right and centre. In the end it was Swann who got the breakthrough and Finn took over from there ending up with six wickets in his first Test innings for 125 runs, flattering final figures. If this breakthrough would have come a couple of sessions earlier, England would have been in dreamland with five wickets for only 45 runs coming from it. If, if, if... It just didn't happen for England though!
Ups: For England, the last session saved their faces for the day. They finally broke through and got the Aussies out and didn't lose any early wickets themselves. It just depends now how they fight through the fourth day... Anderson was the only man who showed fight for England on this day.
Downs: The bowling came to nothing. All the shouts and scares were forgotten for Hussey and Hadden in the second session, England having wasted their reviews early, the Aussies had nothing to worry about and took over the game and were in total control in the afternoon. Entertaining for neutral spectators, wonderful batting and boundaries - sour and dire truth for England fans.
Hero to zero: Again, Andrew Strauss was made to eat his words from the pre-match and pre-tour interviews. With all his confidence and optimism they could control this relatively inexperienced Aussie side, this day hopefully and should have most certainly made him wake up to reality. Never underestimate and Australian side, especially in Australia. Extraordinary underestimation on Strauss' behalf I say (and many other over-optimists, including me!
Australia v England first Test day three as it happened
- Early start to the third day, Australia on 220-5. James Anderson and Stuart Broad try to get early wickets and have a couple of shouts, one lbw given out but then overturned for Anderson against Michael Hussey. Apart from that heart-in-the-mouth moment, no genuine scares early on for Australia, 7 runs from the first 6 overs of the morning.
- 229-5 after 7 overs, Anderson with a couple more lbw appeals in a wonderful over, he is on Hussey's case most certainly, but as England have no reviews remaining, there's not much to keep on shouting about, all given not out.
- 229-5 after 8 overs, partnership of 86 off 211 deliveries with Hussey on 86 off 165 and Brad Haddin on 24 off 96. Resolute batting against consistently challenging bowling in the first half hour.
- 230-5 after 9 overs.
- Steven Finn comes on for Broad and another massive lbw appeal not given, it's just not happening for England. It's not going their way, but they have to be patient, stay in there and it'll pay off hopefully. That looked high and hawkeye says the ball would have gone over. 233-5 after the first 10 overs of the morning. 10 overs, 13 runs, 0 wickets, 13.5 over rate, 1.5 run rate.
- Anderson v Hussey again, lovely deliveries to keep the top scorer of the match so far on his toes, sweet pressure. 237-5, 23 behind after 11 overs. Cracks having their effect and showing movemement, goody goody for Anderson.
- Finn on Haddin's case, the ball fizzing just past his bat, the batsman with some solid shots after that little scare, fielded and picked up well by Colly and co, but no on one can stop the boundary off the last ball, 241-5 after 12 overs, drinks come on.
- Fielding error by Broad brings up 100 partnership off 241 balls; 57 off 125 contributed by Hussey, 30 off 116 by Haddin. Anderson not happy about that. 243-5 after 13 overs.
- Boundary, fine drive by Haddin v Finn. Three fine runs bring 250 on the board for Australia after 14 overs, 10 runs behind.
- Haddin strong high shot boundary v Anderson, Australia getting onto a roll, not good for England. A wide given for a too high delivery to add salt onto the wound for the visitors. More sloppy fielding by Finn too, Anderson must be exploding inside! Hands on hips for England. 257-5 after 15 overs.
- 258-5 after 16 overs.- Broad on for Anderson v Hussey on 92, Australia trailing by just the two, Haddin on 41. 260-5 after 17 overs.
- Finn staying at the other end, Graeme Swann left waiting again, Australia moving ahead on the scoreboard with a beautiful boundary by Haddin, another fine shot brings four and him onto his 6th test fifty, well played. He wants to get going now, Australia want to get going now their ahead, you can sense it. Hussey still on 92. Has he gone all quiet on us?! Haddin seems to be taking over the fin batting... 126 partnership off 271 balls.
- Close shave for Haddin, ball from bat onto boot and could have gone anywhere, 269-5 after 19 overs, Broad knows.
- Swann on for Finn finally, see what he can do... Hussey pushes forward second ball and moves onto 96 with a boundary through mid-off. Will he or won't he go for it now? That's the question... Not really's the answer, just a single off the last ball, Hussey on 97, Australia 274-5 after 20 overs.
- Another single by Hussey brings him onto 98 and Haddin onto the crease v Broad. Single again, Hussey back on and he knows when his shot goes he can take two and his 12 test hundred with it and he's loving every moment of it and celebrating, 3rd v England, 2nd at the Gabba. True joy and big hug from Haddin. 286-5 after 22 overs, Australia earned their drinks. These two men are the difference between the two sides, especially the older guy everyone was doubting if he could still bring it... Ha to them, he's on 104 off 199 balls! Run rate of three on the day so far. Strong and on.
- Boundary brings on 150 partnership off 299 balls, Hussey contributing 73 runs off 148 balls (105 off 200 in total) and Haddin 62 off 152. 293-5 after 23 overs.
- Hussey drags down the ball, almost sweaps it for four. 299-5 after 24 overs.
- Paul Collingwood on for Anderson. Catch dropped/missed: Alastair Cook just quite couldn't get there, not far off the boundary line, tantallising once again, through his finger tips, Haddin let off to score another boundary. 306-5 after 25 overs.
- 307-5 after 26 overs, 47 ahead. 12.5 over rate, 3.35 run rate. 164 partnership off 320 balls.
- 308-5 after 27 overs.
- 311-5 after 28 overs, a couple of tight and close ones for Swann, still nothing for England though. So close and yet so far.
- 312-5 after 29 overs, Hussey on 111 off 213 and Haddin 75 off 176.
- 313-5 after 30.- Ball drops just short of Anderson... Another chance gone begging... 315-5 after 31. Umpires checking the ball...
- Anderson back on with just a couple of overs left before lunch. A couple of close calls again
- 327-5 after 32 overs.
- 329-5 after 33 overs, one more before lunch by Anderson and finishes the session with a maiden. 329-5 after 34 overs, 109 runs off it, Hussey on 124 off 230, Haddin 79 off 189, 186 partnership, Australia 69 ahead. All Australia. England were close, but not close, nearly there but not there, close calls but no wickets. Hussey and Haddin riding the show, some brilliant and beautiful cricket. England need a wonder to spare them from total embarrassment!
Lunch
- Australia 436-5 after 140 overs at tea, lead by 176. 107 runs, 0 wickets in this session, Aussies on top - to put it quite slightly/mildly. They couldn't have wished for anything better from Hussey and Haddin - dream partnership, HuHa, just a little bit!
- Finally England have something to cheer about! Haddin caught at first slip - legside - by Collingwood off Swann, out for 136 off 287, 450-6, parternship has come to an end at 307! Mitchell Johnson on, Australia lead by 190, Hussey on 187, this session so far: 6 overs, 14 runs 1 wicket.
- And Hussey leaves the stage, caught by Alastair Cook off Finn, 458-7, out for 195 off 330, priceless runs, outstanding innings, he receives a standing ovation and England are very glad to see the back of him! Xavier Doherty on v Swann. Big appeal first ball for lbw, close but not out. He's off the mark and scores his first test runs soon after and takes Australia's past 200, 461-7 after 150 overs.
- 462-7 after 12 overs.
- Finn back on in 13th over of the session v Johnson and bowls him out for a long duck with the third ball of the over, straight through all covers, 0 off 19 deliveries, 462-8, Peter Siddle on, off the mark with a single and Doherty follows on with a neat boundary. 13 overs 31 runs 3 wickets in this session so far, England would have loved these stats about two sessions ago! Australia 467-8.
- 5 wickets for Finn in his first Ashes test, something for England to celebrate. Siddle out for 6 off 16 after nicking it high up and off behind him, unusual decision, Australia crumbling to 472-9. Finn's figures so far: 31.4 - 1 - 121 - 5, puts a smile on his face.
- 17 overs, 43 runs and 4 wickets this session make it 479-9 after 157 overs, Australia lead by 219 runs.
- Honesty by Cook, everyone thought he caught the last wicket, but it just dropped short, no cheering.
- Finn's 6th, this time Cook could grab hold of the ball, Australia 481 all out in the 159th over, Doherty last man out for 16 off 30. Finn 33.4 - 1 - 125 - 6. Fine last session for England, but Australia have bossed the day and game overall so far and lead by 221. England will have at least an hour to start tackling the mountain to climb - if they want to get anything out of this game.
- Ben Hilfenhaus kicks the Aussie bowling off against Andrew Strauss, leaves the first ball, big lbw appeal, not given, sent for a review, just high, so decision stands, Australia used one of their reviews, Strauss off the hook - for now. What a start! No pressure on England then! The skipper's off the mark with a single - it's getting better and better for England! 1-0 after the first over.
- Peter Siddle v Strauss at the other end, the skipper leaves the first ball. 3-0 after two overs.
- England finish the day unscathed, 19-0 after 15 overs - what a difference a day makes, England will hope to emulate Australia with a strong innings on day four.
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