2nd test - DAY THREE REPORT

(karthik Narayan)

Australia walked into bat with the wall against their backs and trouble lurking ahead. The first session was too crucial for both sides that the tension did show on the faces. England had the upper hand, but anything is possible in the game of cricket.

Hayden didn’t last much longer than a handful of runs in the morning session, and the sun was already on the shoulders of the Englishmen. Martyn stooped into double figures, only the third Aussie from the top 4 to do so, but at 65/3, Ponting and Hussey had a job on their hands. There were two things to do: stem the wicket flow, and also to keep a partnership going. Both were tough under the circumstances with a huge lead.

Luckily, England fielders have an uncanny habit of dropping catches – they would rather catch butterflies but are butterfingers with the cricket ball. That helped the Aussies a great deal – by lunch on day 3, the Oz were making things happen. And by end of the day, they were better placed at 312/5, Ponting becoming the maximum century maker for Australia with his 33rd century in test matches. His magic with the willow continues!!

Hussey made an useful 91 and together they had thwarted the English bowlers except Hoggard, who kept nagging away for his 4 wickets in the day.