Celebration time: Anderson, centre, celebrates taking another wicket
Session one: Australia 230/8.
Resuming on 134 for four, Australia struggled for runs as England’s bowlers again strangled the life out of them. Brad Haddin was the first wicket to fall, edging James Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Paul Collingwood, who has had an ordinary series with the bat, picked up the crucial wicket of Mike Hussey for 33, bowling Mr Cricket as Australia stumbled to 171 for six. Steve Smith, who doesn’t look ready for Test cricket, became Anderson’s second victim of the morning when he nicked the Lancastrian to Collingwood at third slip. Peter Siddle was next in and next out, another who edged Anderson into the slip cordon – this time Andrew Strauss the catcher. However, there was some resistance from Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus as the pair reached lunch safely and took Australia to somewhere near respectability at the break.
Verdict: England.
Session two: Australia 280. England 73/0.
After lunch, Johnson and Hilfenhaus lay waste to England’s attack with a staggering 59 runs in five overs. Towering sixes from both tailenders gives Australia some momentum to take into their bowling as they put on 76 runs for the ninth wicket before Johnson is finally bowled by Tim Bresnan for 53. And the innings is wrapped up when Hilfenhaus top edges an Anderson delivery to Prior. When England bat, the openers get off to a fast start, with Andrew Strauss hitting 36 of his first 25 deliveries and the skipper and Alastair Cook bring up 50 in just ten overs. The pair continue in the same vein through to the interval, with Strauss one run shy of his 50.
Verdict: England.
Session three: England 167/3.
Strauss wastes little time to pass 50, slashing Johnson for four over the slips. But he makes only ten more before he is bowled by Hilfenhaus. Australia’s bowling has been awful, with Johnson in particular offering up what can only be described as legside filth...or pies. But he finally gets one right, tempting Jonathan Trott into a drive and seeing England’s No.3 get an inside edge onto his stumps. But Cook and Kevin Pietersen consolidate, with England’s vice-captain reaching his third half-century of the series after he was offered a let-off when Beer thought he had got his man caught at mid-on but had the wicket struck off for a no ball. Pietersen, though, falls before the close after a poor hook shot to Johnson saw him caught by Beer in the deep. Anderson comes in as the nightwatchman and he safely negotiates the remaining four overs alongside Cook, who is unbeaten on 61.
Verdict: Drawn.
Test in a tweet: ‘Match is in the balance after Aussie tailend resistance and dogged bowling after nightmare start. England can win but this one might be a thriller.’
Facebook friend: Mitchell Johnson.
He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right and his bowling may often be s**** - as the Barmy Army sing - but the Aussie showed yet again today he is a useful lower order batsman. Just as in Perth, the fast bowler carried Australia up to a respectable first-innings total with some lusty hitting. That he was his side’s top scorer with 53 shows how badly the rest of his team-mates batted. But it also demonstrated how crucial he can be to Australia as an all-rounder when he gets it right. It’s a shame his bowling is so awful, so often.
Unfriend: Michael Beer.
The rookie spinner could walk into the stands at the SCG and nobody would know who he is. That’s not a crime but it demonstrates what a left-field selection he was. Poor old Nathan Hauritz has been overlooked for this unknown and Beer’s failure to take a wicket yesterday, despite some decent bowling, suggested he wasn’t a world beater. At least his name is gold to headline writers.
Celeb spot of the day: David Hasselhoff was in the house during the afternoon session. The Baywatch legend is in Sydney on promotional work and The Hoff delighted cricket followers with his presence at the ground.
Pun of the day: ‘So this is beer batter.’ Kerry O’Keefe on Australian radio when debutant spinner Michael Beer walked out to the middle to bat.
Download of the day: I’ll be ready (Baywatch theme) by Sunblock.