England fought back well on day 3 of the 4th Test match, taking the last 5 Australian wickets fairly cheaply as they could only manage a 1st innings lead of 32, before England built a lead of 202 with 5 2nd innings wickets still in hand. On a pitch that should deteriorate on days 4 and 5 that is a healthy lead, and has made England slight favourites to win this Test match now.
The day started with Graeme Swann taking the last two recognised batsmen, just before the second new ball. First he had Brad Haddin trapped LBW for 13, and then Chris Rogers got a little bit of a glove to a delivery that then ballooned up off of the pad, as Matt Prior took a diving catch in in what would have been a short leg position. James Anderson then got Peter Siddle to edge one, with the second new ball - Alastair Cook taking the catch at slip. At this stage Australia were only 7 ahead with 2 wickets left, but Ryan Harris made some valuable lower order runs to add another 25 runs to Australia's lead. Nathan Lyon was then given out LBW to James Anderson for 4, but Hawkeye showed the ball would have missed leg stump by some distance. The last man to go was Ryan Harris, again LBW, although Tony Hill didn't give it despite being clear, to give Stuart Broad another 5 wicket haul. Australia had a slender 32 run first innings advantage, far from their high hopes at the days start.
England got off to a poor start, as Joe Root got an unplayable delivery from Ryan Harris, that took out his off-stump as he went for 2 with England still 15 behind. The hosts had a lead of just 10 when the second wicket fell, Alastair Cook having a flash outside and getting the edge to Haddin. Only 7 more runs were added before Trott fell for 23, gloving a short ball to Haddin, who took a spectacular catch to dismiss England's No.3. Kevin Pietersen was playing much more controlled Cricket, along with Ian Bell as the pair were going rather nicely and put on a partnership of 106. Pietersen was the next to go, once again to Lyon, as he tried to turn a ball outside off-stump to mid wicket, but only getting a leading edge that went to Rogers at cover. Pietersen gone for 44 with England's lead at 123 runs, still a difficult position as Jonny Bairstow came in. He played quite fluently with Bell, who was again on top form and had taken on the spinner well and dealt with the short ball nicely too. He'd put on 66 with Bell, England's form player, before he got a thin edge off of Nathan Lyon that was again well taken by Brad Haddin, who is having a fine series with the gloves.
England then bought Tim Bresnan in as night watchman for Prior and he survived the rest of the day with Bell, who bought up what was another magnificent hundred. He finishes not out on 105 with Bresnan not out on 4, and England ahead by 202 with Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson still to come. Anything more than 270 will be a tough chase for Australia, more than 300 would be very tough, especially if the sun doesn't shine for the Australian's, making it a seamer's paradise, just as their first innings was to start with.
Tomorrow could well be another decisive day in this series, and another exciting one for the spectators. I am thoroughly looking forward to the next 2 days of Test Cricket and i'm really looking forward to commenting on them afterwards. I fully expect England to head towards victory tomorrow, but anything can happen in a day of Ashes Cricket.
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