First Ashes Test snapshot day three

Mitchell Starc (0) edged one to third slip before even opening his account ending Australia’s innings on 308, trailing England by 122 runs.

Australia do not have a “cat in hell’s chance” of winning the first Ashes Test, says ex- England batsman Geoffrey Boycott.

Once more, that part of a session aside, England were outstanding, the confidence running through the side palpable.

Australia, however, have never been adept at batting on slow pitches in general and at Cardiff in particular. Somebody will have to play a monumental innings.

It was Johnson who got the key breakthrough with a sharp delivery angling away that knocked out Bell’s off stump.

As for Root, he is already posing a huge stumbling block to these opponents.

The fact that Starc, who has an ankle issue, did not immediately join them out there was another bad sign, particularly given the short turnaround before Thursday’s second Test. When he did come on soon after he was noticeably limping and when he began bowling, in pain in his follow-through. Non-striker Clarke shook his head but his disappointment was unlikely to have surpassed that of Rogers.

Australia will also have to consider drafting in another fast bowler to the squad as cover for Starc but resources are running thin.

The batsman reached 60 before becoming Mitchell Johnson’s first wicket of the match, comprehensively bowled and then sent on his way with a volley of verbal venom more potent than much of his bowling in this match. James Anderson and Stuart Broad picked two wickets each in the morning.

Since his century in the first innings of the first test against the West Indies in mid-April, Bell’s scoring had suddenly dried up.

We had better become accustomed to it and enjoy the ride.

The left-armer bowled two maidens at the start of England’s second innings, but was late to take the field.

Those keen to mention Steve Smith in the same breath as the man who averaged 99.94 were given a stark reminder of why they shouldn’t in the first innings. Wickets fell thereafter, including Lyth’s with the score on 73.

This was another richly entertaining day’s play, with 15 wickets falling and runs coming at a lick for an England team determined not to take a backward step.

“Obviously it guarantees you nothing when you come into it but getting runs and spending time in the middle is ideal”.

David Warner and Nathan Lyon attempt to get into Ben Stokes’s head by not allowing him to complete his end-of-over bat sweep. It was all done in the blink of an eye.

With the odds now stacked in England’s favour, the Australian press were left to reflect on a hard day…

Alastair Cook responded to the breakthrough with an early outing for off-spinner Moeen, who took the 10th over of the innings.

TEST great Ian Healy reckons Australia had England on the ropes when Josh Hazlewood removed Gary Ballance.

A spell of seven fours off 17 balls – four for Ian Bell, three for opener Adam Lyth – brought the crowd alive and swung the momentum just as the Aussies were buoyant.