Australia v England - Day 3

Lunch

There was a time, through the nineties, that an Australian side in trouble could always relay on the hard man of Australian cricket, Steve Waugh to grind out a lead no matter how tough the fight. Now, with Ponting losing the edge, Mr Metrosexual suffering from Shaggers Back and North gone elastic, the morning session belonged to a couple who revived the spirit of their hardman former captain. With James Anderson bowling superbly for the first hour and beating the bat with great regularity, it seemed only a matter of time before the new ball would do the trick that the English magicians were attempting but Michael Hussey and a restrained Brad Haddin had other dieas.

They say that good batting is the art of survival, something which is often lost in modern Test cricket, modelled as it now is on the shorter, lesser forms of the game. This morning, we have seen the evidence for Test cricket remaining just the way it always has been ... a test. So often this is lost. England could have done no more in that first hour to swing the game back in their favour and whilst there should be no surprise that Hussey could take the role of survivor, it was Haddin who showed once and for all that he is a batsman for all conditions.

As the next ninety minutes of this extended session unfolded, so did the strokeplay from both. Haddin drove straight and cut ferociously. Finn bowled too short as his spell reached its latter stages and was replaced by Broad who also banged the ball in and received deserved treatment. Swann had a longish spell but Hussey negated him as he struggled to know what length to bowl as Hussey first drove him and then pulled him. Some of the field placing reflected this confusion too as Strauss looked a tad uncertain. It was Collingwood who created the only tangible chance as Haddin drove one up and over mid off which hung in the air just long enough for a running Alistair Cook to tip a finger on it on its way to the turf.

Despite this misdemeanour, Haddin has likely played his most important innings under the green helmet and Hussey, as I suggested a couple of weeks ago, was worth waiting for because he has that ability to focus so strongly on a task.

This is when it gets tough for England, after 150mins where they did most things right, got no returns and are now far enough behind to be worried. They still haven't won a session in this Test despite much good work against a side most pundits and even it's own supporters doubted could be up for the contest. Strauss and others in the team know how quickly things can go very bad on an Australia tour. All the need is a reversal in the luck which has run against them in the last two sessions.

Sessions: Australia 4, England 0, Shared 3

Tea

Without a doubt, this session was Australia's most convincing - even more so than the last session on the first day when Siddle performed his miracles and bowled England out. Hussey and Haddin were untroubled to add more than hundred against an England attack still out of luck and by the end, out of patience. More worrying was the lack of ideas.

Apart from setting up a victory which the previous six months indicated was unlikely, the approach by H2oh against Graeme Swann has won a very important victory over the spinner and taken the wind from English sails which hitherto had been racing across placid waters. The cheeky Notts man, rated the best spinner in world cricket over the past twelve months, has been smashed of any length he has tried to bowl. When he tossed it up, Haddin smashed him back over his head including one six to raise his hundred. When he bowled short, Hussey peppered the midwicket boundary. In between, he was worked for ones and twos. In truth, any reply will take Swann a few days and video tape to work out. For now, his danger is nulified.

Emphatic is the appropriate word.

173 in front shouldn't be enough judging by the wicket but England, convinced now that the god's are against them - as they may be in their thongs and boardies - will have to contend with more than Siddle & Co. It is their minds they will have to beat most of all. If they can bat with duty in the remaining days in Brisbane then bad luck can be overcome and their claims of quality placed back to the forefront.

Sessions: Australia 5, England 0, Shared 3

Stumps

England finally won a session in this Test, claiming the five Australian wickets they wanted at worst this morning in a clatter after Hussey and Haddin ended their long 307 run partnership ... the first triple century partnership in Aust/Eng matches at the Gabba. There is nothing more to be said about the extreme quality of their batting which has taken any chace of victory away from the visitors. Devoid of luck, there task now is to save this Test and remove the advantage Siddle, Hussey and Haddin have given their side and it is time for the leadership which Strauss has gained a reputation for showing. He must play a long, dominant hand so the qualities of his batting line up come into the light. This is not about saving face, its about making a strong response to the efforts a few of the Australians have contributed.

For Australia, Johnson must perform tomorrow but there is no sign he will. His opening salvos in the late evening were discouraging.

Like the first three days, the last two in Brisbane will be compelling. Its all Australia so far. Lets see what England can do.

Sessions: Australia 5, England 1, Shared 3