Tonderful: Mike Hussey celebrates his century
Session one: Australia 211/4.
England’s bowlers toil in the heat for almost an hour-and-a-half before Chris Tremlett makes the breakthrough, trapping Shane Watson lbw on 95. The Aussie opener immediately refers the decision and, after replays show the ball is clipping leg stump, he reluctantly trudges off gesturing to the umpires that he got bat on ball. Hotspot replays prove inconclusive. Steve Smith, the new man in, then survives another lbw decision on referral after umpire Billy Doctrove’s original decision is overturned. Mike Hussey passes 50 for the sixth successive innings – an Ashes record – and survives another erroneous leg before decision after referral on the last ball before lunch.
Verdict: Australia.
Session two: Australia 297/8.
As the hosts move towards an imposing target, England’s bowlers finally make some in-roads. After 50 minutes of toil, Steve Smith falls for 36 after he edges Tremlett to Matt Prior. Tremlett then removes Brad Haddin (7) cheaply to take his haul to four for the innings. Part-time seamer Paul Collingwood chips in with the wicket of Mitchell Johnson – caught by Bell - for one. Ryan Harris went for the same score, caught by Bell hooking to Steve Finn as England take their fourth wicket in 24 minutes. But Hussey reaches his 100 and Australia are still in command despite losing a flurry of wickets.
Verdict: Drawn.
Session three: Australia 309. England 81/5.
England take 20 minutes after tea to wrap up the Australia innings, with Jimmy Anderson having Peter Siddle caught by Collingwood for his 200th Test wicket and then Tremlett picking up his first Test five-for with the wicket of Mike Hussey, Mr Cricket finally getting something wrong as he hooked to Graeme Swann at square leg. It means England have to score an unlikely 391 to win.
Their cause isn’t helped when Alastair Cook is dismissed lbw by Harris for just 13. Andrew Strauss is then scalped by Johnson, edging to Ricky Ponting at third slip as England’s hopes fade. All hope is then almost extinguished when Kevin Pietersen prods tentatively at a Hilfenhaus delivery and edges to Watson. Things get worse as two more wickets fall before the close to make England’s position utterly hopeless. Trott is caught by Haddin off Johnson for 31 before, off the last ball of the day, Collingwood nicks Ryan Harris to Steve Smith at third slip. Oh dear.
Verdict: Australia.
Test in a tweet: ‘England’s bowlers toil manfully but a mammoth total looks way out of reach for the batsmen. It’s going to be 1-1 with two Tests to play.’
Facebook friend: Mike Hussey.
Mr Cricket has been imperious during this series and his form is even more remarkable given he was in real danger being dropped in the run-up to the first Test. He has passed 50 in every innings of this series so far and yesterday he got a century to put Australia in total command. Apparently, when he was younger Hussey first played cricket with a stick of wood and stones. But every time he has stepped out with a bat in his hand this summer he has been seeing it like a beach ball.
Unfriend: Shane Watson.
Watto played well for his 95 but the tantrum after his dismissal – as he showed his bat to the umpires and stomped off – was just not cricket. Okay, so he may have felt he got bat on the Chris Tremlett ball which thudded into his pads but the umpire made an honest decision and even after he referred it, there was still no tangible proof Watson had been wronged. Sometimes Shane, decisions don’t go for you and sometimes you get it wrong even if you felt there had been bat involved. Your team were in a dominant position anyway, get over it.
Figure of the day: 414. The total South Africa chase down at the Waca against Australia two years ago. They lost just four wickets. England’s highest successful run chase was 332 in Melbourne in 1928/29.
Cheer of the day: For the streaker who interrupted play late in the final session.
Overzealous security guard of the day: The man who ejected a patron for, quote: ‘Sitting near people who have brought in unauthorised alcohol.’ Ridiculous.
Top tunes of the day from Bill Cooper, the Barmy Army trumpeter: Any dream will do (Joseph and Technicolour Dreamcoat), Fairytale of New York (Pogues and Kirsty McColl), the Rocky theme tune.
Download of the day: Writing’s on the wall by Plan B.