Australia v England , 3rd Test - Day 3

Lunch - Australia 4-211 (Hussey 60, Smith 16. Tremlett 2-56)

Australia moved more into control of this Test through fine batting from its two most technically correct batsmen, Watson & Hussey. The first hour was a struggle against seven tight and probing overs from James Anderson and although there was no evidence of the swing of previous days, his control over line and length was outstanding. Tremlett bowled a short spell and was replaced by Finn who seemed to have heeded the advice from ever expert in Australia and was bowling a much fuller length. The young man is a genuine wicket taker but at 21 is still learning his craft and can often be bullied by batsmen confident enough to attack him. With things tight just before drinks, Hussey and Watson had added 28 in nearly and hour until they took 18 from Anderson and Finn in the last ten balls before the mini break, Watson's two superb cover drives for four both having him in the classic right knee on the ground finishing position and taking him into the nineties.

Watson drove again for three off the first ball after drinks from Tremlett and then ten minutes were lost when a rail snapped on the sight screen preventing it from moving across to cover the man mountain Tremlett coming around the wicket at Hussey. Even the TV camera man got involved in the bodgie repair work which eventually got the game underway but the delay was not good news for Watson a man who has lost hundreds before ... and so it proved again less than an over later as Tremlett did no more or less than bowl a ball straight at the sticks and Watson deceived himself and was lbw for 95. His was a fine innings and apart from Hussey, he has been the only reliable batsmen in the top six for Australia this summer.

Smith had some interesting moments against Tremlett, surviving a dismissal and the subsequent referral for a catch at first slip and lbw all on the one shot. As any cricket enthusiast will know, one appeal covers all modes of dismissal. As the session ended he was looking confident, a pull shot his most memorable shot in a short stay.

The perplexing point of interest for the morning was the non appearance of Swann at either end, especially since he is usually able to keep batsmen bottled in these situations. This was especially strange given his battled wins over Hussey this summer and Smith's inexperience against an off spinner of Swann's quality. There were other tell tale signs too, for although England fielded well, misfields started to creep in in the last half hour and Strauss spent about twenty minutes of the field. Under pressure for the first time since early in the Brisbane Test their armour was rattling more than their sabres this morning.

Australia are not safe yet but if Husseys score a hundred and the last six can make a hundred between them, then England will need to better the South African's record at this ground. I'm not sure they can't, mind you, as there is no swing today and no spinner of worth or danger in the Australian side.

This Session: Australia

Sessions this Test: Australia 4, England 2, Shared 1

Sessions This Series: England 17, Australia 11, Shared 5

Tea - Australia 8-297 (Hussey 111, Siddle 3. Tremlet 4-69, Finn 3-97)

There was a lot to like about England's work but still many questions to be asked, most of which are about Graeme Swann. Even if you accept that Strauss was trying to use his fast men to keep the Australians under pressure, it was a big task when Hussey was one of the men to be quietened and England had to rotate their second session of the day around three main bowlers. When those things are considered, surely Swann should have bowled more than nine overs before the second new ball was taken by Anderson just before tea? Swann was roughly treated in the last of the five overs he bowled today but either Strauss was relying on poor tactics or his best bowler is unwell or unfit. A missed catch late in the session swayed thoughts towards the latter as Swann is a fine fielder with hands as good as anyone in the modern game.

Steve Smith looked good adding 75 with Hussey - certainly good enough to have been in these contests since the start in Brisbane. He's young and a little unorthodox but in a period of transition, you have to start putting faith in youth and he is one of our best. In a match which has increasingly featured ill tempered posturing from those raised by Bully boy Hayden from their youth to grunt and growl when their ability fell short, it was so pleasing to see Smith call fairly for the DRS when he knew he hadn't hit the ball and then walk at the instant he saw his gloved deflection fall into Matt Prior's gloves.

Tremlett, Finn and Collingwood (bowling Swann in absentia) spent 45 minutes bringing England back into the game, Johnson and Harris playing very poor shots into the waiting hands of Bell.

It was fitting that Hussey raised his hundred with another pull shot as England have insisted on setting the ball in just the right place to a man who is close to the best in the game on that particular shot. With Ponting, the pull and hook are an act of violence, where as Hussey plays the shot like a surgeon may remove cancer. His driving has been as precise, often threading the needle through narrow gaps with timing Jerry Seinfeld would drool over.

Australia are far from safe. 378 in front certainly places them in a position of great advantage but South Africa removed any complacence over the 400 figure and on this very ground. They will need another 70 to be sure because time is not a factor and this England side won't shirk the task. Should Australia fold quickly, the likes of Johnson and Harris and Hughes should be given a bollocking.

Those of you who prefer the short game I can only shake my head and wonder at your upbringing.

This Session: England

Sessions this Test: Australia 4, England 3, Shared 1

Sessions This Series: England 18, Australia 11, Shared 5

Stumps - Australia 309 (Hussey 116, Watson 95, Smith 36. Tremlett 5-87, Finn 3-97); England 5-81 (Trott 31, Harris 2-22, Johnson 2-28)

What a frenetic last session with Australia quickly dismissed and Hussey the last man out. Tremlett had toiled long and hard and deserved his return but Finn was flattered by his three wickets.

Starting with 391 required, England were seriously a threat if they played to their potential but Cook and Strauss were gone soon enough - Cook fooled by the length of a ball from Harris which held its line, struck both pads and had him lbw and Strauss by a beauty from Johnson he had to play and Ponting took one of those awkward squatting catches which always look as though he could stand up and comfortably swallow the catch instead.

Jonathon Trott settled in and looked untroubled and intent on building an innings to see where it might take him. Ponting switched bowlers around under Hilfenhaus found a comfortable spot and settled in himself, bowling seven overs for 13. Mid spell, Pietersen, on whom much had to be expected, changed bats only to play a dreadful shot outside the off stump and be caught by Watson at first slip. He remonstrated with himself and seemed annoyed by the shiacking the crowd handed him. Still, if you are a big personality you have to expect a humbling ocassionally. Reputed as a difficult man to handle, the English heirachy still need to speak with him about such a poor effort on and off the field.

Trott and an unsteady Collingwood steadied the ship for England in the last half hour but it all came unstuck in the last eight deliveries of the day. First Johnson pushed a ball across Trott which swung little but kept going on the left armers natural line across a right hander and he endge to Ponting, squatting again but this time not pouching but knocking the ball up for Haddin's presence of mind to snare the rebound. Australia's jubilation was tempered by the Captain's departure for attendion to a damaged little finger.

With Jimmy Anderson in as night watchman and Johnson slinging his last delivery wide, it was just up to Collingwood to face out the last over from Harris. Bowling balls to the mid 140's in the even Perth late afternoon light which was bright enough for Haddin to summon sunglasses, Collingwood was unsettled by a short delivery that very near tore his head off. With only the last ball to survive after bobbing and prodding his way through the over from a pumped Ryan Harris, he pushed uncertainly at the last and Steve Smith took a wonderful catch low to his right at third slip.

England are done but then Perth always was going to be the venue for an Australian win. They have played strong cricket here and will go to Boxing Day and the cauldron that is The G having been terrorised by the Australian here.

Cricket mirracles happen but they won't happen in Perth tomorrow. The smartest thing England can do is fight Australia tooth and nail tomorrow and the smartest play for Australia is to stay professional and step on Englands throat in the morning and achieve a quick kill.

From this match, England's biggest worry is Collingwood who finishes here with only 62 runs @ 15.50 ... even Ricky Ponting is doing better than that.

This Session: Australia
Sessions this Test: Australia 5, England 3, Shared 1
Sessions This Series: England 18, Australia 12, Shared 5