KP goes nuts: Pietersen celebrates his double ton
Session one: England 449/3.
Australia finally get a wicket, when Alastair Cook nicks Ryan Harris through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 148 but it just means someone else – Kevin Pietersen – gets the chance to flay this flagging home attack. KP brings up his century and moves on to 158 by lunch, with Paul Collingwood, on 40, ably assisting him. England put on 132 runs in the session as they move into a match-winning situation.
Verdict: England
Session two: England 551/4.
The tourists lose an early wicket after lunch when Paul Collingwood is trapped lbw by Shane Watson for 42. But Kevin Pietersen continues to dominate Australia’s bowlers and passes his highest Ashes score of 158 and goes on to make 200 with a manic single.
Verdict: England.
Session three: Rained off.
Test in a Tweet: ‘KP goes nuts when he gets his 200 as England continue to dominate. Rain is Australia’s only hope now. Shame there’s more predicted.
Who’ll we befriend on Facebook: Kevin Pietersen
He’s had tantrums, Twitter rants and been dropped from the one-day side since his last Test century but KP so often delivers on the big occasion and he did so again here with a majestic double century, full of the wristy cuts, drives and pull shots which had become his trademark before he lost his mojo.
And who we’ll unfriend: Doug Bollinger
Another centurion, however, that was runs conceded by the towering pace bowler. He may be Metro’s columnist in the Aussie camp but he’s been a huge disappointment on his Ashes debut.
Stat of the day: Australia are at least winning one war in this Test – they have three centurions to England’s two. Doug Bollinger, Xavier Doherty and Peter Siddle all conceded more than three figures in runs.
Meal update of the day: ‘I have had a cracking risotto for lunch.’ The great Geoff Boycott.
Download of the day: Redemption Song by Bob Marley.