Australia suffer Rogers setback

England were actually much improved with the ball after resuming with a daunting score of 337-1 on the board, but Australia were still more than satisfied to add 229 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Michael Clarke’s pre-lunch declaration set England 509 for victory, although runs aside, Alastair Cook and his men would be thrilled if they could bat five sessions and salvage a draw.

Australia stuck to their task well, bowled mostly full lengths to attacking fields, and gradually chipped away at the England innings.

That left the tourists with a first-innings lead of 254 – the same figure as Australia’s highest individual Test score at Lord’s made by cricket great Don Bradman in 1930.

Given this non-base, England could not ask for more from their fifth wicket than a stand of 145, but it was far from being enough.

Moeen then got a very good ball from Josh Hazlewood (three for 68), one of the first in the match to move notably off the seam on this slow pitch, and had to go lbw as England’s tail folded quickly after tea.

Amid the doom and gloom of England’s predicament in the second Test, the ongoing development of Ben Stokes provides a welcome chink of light.

Or, as Ben Stokes somewhat unsubtly suggested at day’s end, a batsman.

Voges, who suffered a painful blow while fielding at short leg on day two, remained in the changerooms throughout day three.

After Friday’s play, which ended with England 85 for four, Johnson had tried to goad Stokes by questioning whether he would still continue to bat in the “aggressive” fashion that has been England’s watchword under new Australian coach Trevor Bayliss.

England’s final total represented something of a major recovery after they had slumped to 30 for four on Friday in the face of hostile fast bowling led by Mitchell Johnson.

“The crucial thing will be to keep them batting for as long as we can before they declare”. I think we’ll need a little bit of time to bowl these guys out on a pretty flat wicket.

“When we say we want to play this attacking, positive way it’s a “mental place” to be…it doesn’t mean try to lash your first ball through extra-cover”.

Cook was batting impressively and looking increasingly assured when he attempted to drive a wide delivery from Mitchell Marsh.

A consensus of weather websites, mobile apps, local experts and old salts who simply take a stab suggests it will fall heavily overnight, clear in the morning and possibly return in fits and starts during Sunday afternoon. Partly this was forced upon them, Peter Nevill coming in for Brad Haddin as wicketkeeper as the latter has withdrawn for personal reasons, and partly better selection, the young thruster all-rounder Mitchell Marsh replacing the veteran Shane Watson.

Broad noted the change in the pitch from England’s last match at Lord’s in his column for the Daily Mail.