My picks of the third day:
England added only 69 runs to their overnight total and were all out for 513, leaving Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 168. That gave Australia a deficit of 415 to make up for. The hosts started steadily, losing only one wicket in the afternoon session, before Tim Bresnan ripped through the heart of their attack taking three wickets for only five runs in the final session, making Australia fall and end the day on 169-6, still 246 runs behind England.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 513 all out, 415 ahead at lunch: As pointless as it was to bat it out, England added 69 runs to their overnight total, losing five wickets in the process, extending their lead to 415 runs and giving Australia an even more impossible, harrowing hill to climb.
2nd session, Australia 95-1, 320 runs behind at tea: Australia will be happy under the given cirumstances, having only lost just the one wicket. Every session from now onwards would have to be the same to give the hosts a chance, which seems less likely and too good to be true...
3rd session, Australia 169-6, 246 behind at the end of day three: England got the breakthrough and broke the Aussies down as it seems all too familiar and typical for this match and series. They will have to wait another day to celebrate their victory, but the last session and wickets will be just rhetorical really in answering the question on who the winner and better side of this match and series is.
Partnerships: Australia's openers Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes had the biggest partnership of the day with 53 runs, followed by Watson and skipper Ricky Ponting with 46. Apart from that, the batting lineup of both sides was all smashed, bashed and crumbled to pieces. England lost their lower half = five wickets for only 69 runs, whilst Australia lost four for only 59 after the first two good-ish parternships. It shows, it definitely has not been a day of batting togetherness, that is for sure, some of the dismissals being pointblank stupid and reckless, the run out of non-striker Hughes especially. And with Ryan Harris looking less likely to bat due to injury, a stress fracture of his left ankle sustained during bowling in the morning session, it leaves the Aussies with only three lower-end wickets left on day four.
Bowling: All four England bowlers looked on fire, in the last session especially. Bresnan got the most crucial break- and shakethroughs taking out opener Watson (lbw 54, Australia 99-2), skipper Ponting (bowled 20, 102-3) and last-match-centurion Mike Hussey (caught by Ian Bell for a duck, 104-4), whilst James Anderson and Graeme Swann contributed one each (bowled Steven Smith for 38, 158-6, and Michael Clarke caught by skipper Andrew Strauss for 13, 134-5, respectively) and Chris Tremlett kept the pressure up inbetween. They have made England proud and moved them closer to retaining the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years with another outstandingly dominant display.
Ups: It is nearly over! We have nearly crushed them and regained the Ashes Down Under!
Downs: Will the last Test match still be a juicy competition? Will the Aussies fight to draw and not let their heads dangle and lose the series? Will England fight and thrash on to win the series emphatically? I hope so!
Hero to zero: Australi-who?
Australia v England fourth Test third day as it happened:
Highlights taken from the BBC website:
1st session:
- WICKET, Prior c Ponting b Siddle 85 (England 459-6): It's all over for Prior, 15 short of his century as he drives the first ball of Siddle's new over straight into the hands of mid-on. A rare moment for Ponting - who's not fielding in the slips in this game because of his fractured finger - to celebrate - and Siddle now has four wickets as well as two catches, so he's been involved with all the wickets.
- WICKET, Bresnan c Haddin b Siddle 4 (England 465-7): Siddle secures his second five-wicket haul of the series as Big Tim gets a faint edge to the keeper.
- England 473-7, TROTT 150: Local hero Siddle takes a rest after taking 2-12 in five overs this morning. Left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson to take up the attack - there's one slip and two gullys in for Trott, who clips him through mid-wicket and they run three - that's 150 for the Warwickshire man, who receives some warm applause from the England fans. Swann shovels a four down to fine leg - Johnson bowled some absolute tripe at times yesterday, as the old nursery rhyme goes "when he's good, he's very very good - but when he's bad, he's horrid."
- DRINKS BREAK, England 473-7: "My short game's better than ever at the moment," purrs golf fan Geoff Boycott on TMS as Hilfenhaus keeps it tight against Trott. Another maiden for big Ben, and time for that large drinks bottle/cart to chug onto the arena for the first time today.
- WICKET, Swann c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 22 (England 508-8): Swann swats a two through mid-wicket, but Hilfenhaus finally gets his man when Swann tries to hook a bouncer and is caught by the leaping wicketkeeper Haddin. England lead by 410.
- WICKET, Tremlett b Hilfenhaus 4 (England 512-9): Tremlett is clean bowled by a reverse-swinging delivery from Hilfenhaus. A shame for Chris, but England will take heart if the ball's reverse-swinging...
- WICKET, Anderson b Siddle 1 (England 513 all out): Siddle bowls Anderson to finish with 6-75. He takes the applause from his home crowd, while there's also a generous ovation for Jonathan Trott who is left unbeaten on 168. Early lunch is taken.
2nd session:
- WICKET, Hughes run out (Trott/Prior) 23 (Australia 53-1): Single from Hughes - then Watson pushes the ball into the covers, Hughes fatally hesitates as they go through for a quick single, Trott slings the ball to Prior who demolishes the stumps, it goes upstairs to the third ump and he's gone!
- DRINKS BREAK, Australia 60-1: Bresnan is still probing outside Watson's off stump (as a Yorkshireman he's probably happy to bowl in Geoffrey's corridor of uncertainty). A maiden over, and it's time for another drinks break.
- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 60-1: Big, big shout for lbw against Ponting, big appeal from Anderson, umpire Tony Hill shakes his head and England decide against a review. It hit the pad above the knee-roll, but there was no inside edge. Virtual Eye thinks it was "Umpire's Call" over whether the ball was hitting the stumps - ie it was very close - so a review would have been fruitless. But in the curious way the DRS works, if Hill had given him out, a review from the batsman would have been equally fruitless... Then there's another big appeal off the last ball, but again England keep their two reviews up their sleeve as it was sailing over the stumps.
- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 71-1: Tremlett returns to the attack in place of Anderson, while TMS summariser Michael Vaughan (who suffered more than his fair share of injuries in his playing career) sympathises with the crocked Ryan Harris. Another big lbw shout as Tremlett thuds one into Watson's pads... yet again, England are right to eschew a review as Virtual Eye suggests it would be "umpire's call" on height. Maiden over from Tremmers.
- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 79-1: With just over 20 minutes until tea (due at 0410 GMT), Jim Maxwell on TMS wonders whether Simon Katich could return to the Australia side for Sydney, as Ponting angles Tremlett for four past gully. A shorter delivery is pulled, safely, to deep backward square leg for a single. There's a big cheer as Watson looks like he's edged behind to Prior... but he's not sure whether it carried. The umps consult the third ump... and it clearly hit the ground before bouncing up into Prior's gloves.
- TEA, Australia 95-1, WATSON FIFTY: Tremlett resumes his duel with Ponting, who has dug in to score 15 from his first 50 balls. The Aussie skipper paddles a single to long leg, Watson pushes a quick single into the covers to reach his 15th Test half century (and fourth of the series). Punter straight-drives for three, and is that tea? Yes, it is, even though I make it only 0409 by my clock...
3rd session:
- UMPIRE REVIEW: Still only two slips in as right-arm seamer Tim Bresnan returns for his second spell of the innings. Watson drives powerfully just past the bowler's left hand for four, but then he's hit on the pad while offering no shot, and umpire Tony Hill raises his finger! After a quick discussion, Watson calls for a review... WICKET: Watson lbw b Bresnan 54 (Australia 99-2), Watson was hit on the knee-roll, the impact (where it hit him) is "umpire's call" but Virtual Eye reckons it was hitting the wickets (just) - and he's out! "Well bowled, Yorkie!" is the reaction of a thrilled Geoff Boycott - and Australia have lost one of their reviews.
- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 102-2: Swann gives it a bit of air against Ponting, Prior scoops the ball up for a one-handed stumping and Umpire Hill at square leg makes the "TV" symbol, but Punter's back foot had slid back behind the popping crease. A loose delivery from Swann is guided behind square for a single by Ponting - then there's another chance of a stumping as Clarke comes out of his crease but Prior can't take the ball cleanly and the chance is gone.
- WICKET, Ponting b Bresnan 20 (Australia 102-3): The Barmy Army make themselves heard as Ponting is resolute in defence against Bresnan - but then he has his stumps splattered with the aid of an inside edge that knocks his middle stump back and England go wild! Big, big wicket.
- WICKET, Hussey c Bell b Bresnan 0 (Australia 104-4): Hussey shoulders arms to Bresnan, there's another lbw shout as he offers no stroke, but it was going over... Bresnan is on fire here, and it would be intriguing if England ended up retaining the Ashes thanks to him and Tremlett, who were considered by some observers to be the two most marginal selections for the Ashes touring squad. Then Mr Cricket departs for a duck when he pokes a catch straight to Bell at short cover! "The Australian innings is in tatters!" says Jim Maxwell on TMS.
- DRINKS BREAK, Australia 117-4: In fact, Tremlett is off the field temporarily, wincing with pain as Swann wheels away to Clarke, who steers a two past mid-off before opening the face to dab a three to third man. England take a well-earned drinks break - Australia still trail by 298.
- WICKET, Clarke c Strauss b Swann 13 (Australia 134-5): Swann has two slips and a helmeted short leg in place as he bowls round the wicket to Clarke... and he's pouched by Cap'n Strauss at second slip!
- DRINKS BREAK, Australia 139-5: Swann continues his round-the-wicket line of attack to Haddin, as Monty Panesar jogs round the boundary (to the inevitable cheers from England fans) in order to give Tremlett a drink. The Aussie keeper is off the mark with an on-driven single. Last drinks break of the day?
- Australia 150-5: Haddin defends fluently against Swann before pushing a single past the bowler. A single from Smith brings up Australia's 150, to barely a glimmer of applause from the increasingly sparse MCG crowd. Six more overs scheduled after this, and England's use of a spinner (coupled with the lack of runs scored in recent overs) means we're unlikely to need the full "overtime" half-hour (0630-0700) in which to complete the alloted 90 overs. BUT if a wicket falls, the extra half-hour (which England could claim) is a different kettle of fish entirely.
- WICKET, Smith b Anderson 38 (Australia 158-6): Short and wide from Anderson, and Smith punishes him with a flashing square cut for four. But the youngster drags the next ball onto his stumps! (A perfect commentator's curse from Michael Vaughan, who had just praised his batting).
- Australia 160-6: There's a slip, short leg, silly point and short extra cover as Swann bowls to Johnson, who turns the ball just wide of Alastair Cook at short leg for a single. Meanwhile, umpire Aleem Dar has a word with Jonathan Trott who appears to be getting a bit over-excited about something. If you've just woken up and are bemused by these references to "Rolf", you may not be aware that Aussie bowler Ryan Harris has a stress fracture of his ankle and may not be able to bat. So Australia only have two more fit players left to bat.
- CLOSE OF PLAY, Australia 169-6: Johnson drives at Anderson and that's nearly a caught-and-bowled chance as the ball hits the bowler on the boot. With nearly the entire team in catching positions, a cover drive brings him three. Haddin defends his stumps, and that's it for the day. England walk off the field, give the Barmy Army a hands-above-the-head clap, and I think it's not premature to say they've got one hand on the urn. Australia still trail by 246 runs, with six wickets down and an injured batsman unlikely (we think) to bat.
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