DAY 2

Well, that was interesting!

3-42 in the first hour and it was Onions bringing tears to the Aussie batsman's eyes. Still, only 1-42 if you forget the first two deliveries! What exactly was Hussey thinking after watching Watson get hit in front by an ball that moved in slightly? Whatever it was, you'd think shouldering arms wouldn't have been among his options after having his timber disturbed with his bat on his shoulder earlier in the series. Bit like the old game of Tag we played as kids ... stand still and call out "free shot". Whoops! Onions has been peeling (I'll stop soon) down a lovely mix of swinging deliveries and is showing those who can't avoid my jotted notes why I had confidence in his ability to create mischief like the Jones boy did in '05.

Ponting's die by the sword dismissal gave him enough runs to become the leading Australian run-scorer in Tests and given the amount of words I have dedicated to outlining his weakness as a captain, let me redress the balance a little here. This guy is one among the best I have watched play the game in Australian colours. He sits beside the very best - the Chappells, the Waughs, Dougie, Border, Kim Hughes (that might surprise you) and must surely hold his own against the luminous names of the past - McCartney, Trumper, Harvey, O'Neill. All were match winners, all were glorious to watch on any given day and all were proud as punch to wear that daggy baggy green cap. There have been none who played the cross bat shot with more authority and like many of the above, Ponting times the ball so sublimely off his legs that he can afford to come across his stumps and pluck decent deliveries through mid wicket. Again, like many in the unfinished list above, he has been a superb fielder, at his best close to and in front of the wicket.

In the end, he hasn't crawled past the record, he's blasted through the mark averaging 56.

Well played Punter.

In came Stuart Clark and blow me down if he didn't even have the drinks tray swinging both ways.

After drinks, Clarke and North set themselves for that big partnership to resurrect this Test but the reintroduction of Anderson, whilst not immediately successful, only needed the commentary team to dismiss Anderson's efforts in continually bowling inswingers. Clarke was unlucky, as although beaten by a wickedly late inswinger, even at first view it looked to be passing down the legside. In strode Manou to generous applause as he maked his guard for his first Test innings and he soon had it underway with a leg glance from Anderson and a pull from Broad both cutting the boundary.

As lunch approached, North lost patience with the constant diet of balls from Anderson passing outside his offstump and going further away and slashed badly at one, sending it only as far as Pryor for a good one-handed grab in front of first slip Strauss. This was a very poor shot from North and ammunition for those baying for him to join Hughes at the card table. Johnson came and went, another victim of Uncle Rudi, although I must admit, it looked out until I saw the replays. Then, just as Flintoff's stomach rumbles threatened to cause rain, Manou was rissoled by a corker from Anderson.

7-77 lost in the session. It could be the two hours that decides the Test.

It took England an hour after lunch to wrap up the Australian innings as Hauritz, Siddle and Hilfenhaus combined misses and hits to add 60 for the last two wickets. Anderson picked up a five wicket haul, his first against Australia. Fittingly, Onions finished what he started this morning and the Australians finished with a nearly in-between total of 263. Embarrassingly, the last three at least made the bowlers work and perhaps Neilsen should give Hussey the batting tape of Mr Hilfenhaus because at least he was playing shots!

In the remaining 36 overs that were allowed until bad light and rain closed the event, Strauss made sure of England's progress with a steady, dominant performance. After Siddle snuck one off the edge of Cook's bat in his first over and raised Australia hopes, Bopara and Bell stuck it out with their skipper to have England hanging about the second base camp on the way up to victory. Bopara was far from convincing and hung his bat ineffectively at a ball early in Hilfenhaus' second spell and lost his off stump via the inside edge. He hasn't done anything to make one believe he's a Test No 3 against better opponents. Bell, on the other hand, was solid and very, very focused. This was the Bell we saw in Australia but can he go on to the bigger scores now the McGrath/Warne/Lee pressure has been released? He'll never get a better chance - home ground and mighty opponents who tails keep tripping them up.

Strauss was very impressive. He has Ponting on the deck and one feels he doesn't intend to let him up. His bowlers established the first base camp and he has found the way to the second. What lies ahead - the tall Everest of a second victory and the oldest warriors beaten back - relies on what the conditions will throw at him and for tomorrow at least, this looks bleak but even if he's from the South African part of England, he's used to the rain.

The difference in this game is very clear: England swung the ball and Australia, apart from parts of Hilfenhaus second spell, didn't. Hilfenhaus can, Siddle never does and Johnson can't possibly with his technical flaws. Stuart Clark sits iddly by wondering why. Poor old Mitch tried hard in an improved performance but in the space of two Tests he has gone from being one of the fastest, deadliest bowlers in the world to bowling second change behind the off spinner. Given Ponting's style of captaincy, he should correctly read this as a lack of confidence by the skipper. Add to that a first ball, Hussey-style duck and even his piercings might be ready to desert him.

Australia not waving, drowning.

POLL RESULT - 60% of Cricketragic respondents believe the 3rd Test will be a draw, 20% see an English and 20% an Australian win (thanks to Andrew Hilditch for that vote).