So far, the Old Trafford Test is being played is if in a time capsule. Australia are ascendant, batting boldly and bowling with discipline and menace. England are constrained, left to toil in the field for hours before taking up a grim occupation of the crease with a draw quickly looming as their favoured result.
The results of the first two Tests of this Ashes series dictate that a stalemate is all the hosts require to keep the urn, but by stumps on day two they found themselves 52 for 2 in reply to 527 for 7 declared - the sort of hole once faced with regularity by preceding generations.
For a team who had lost six consecutive Test matches leading into this one, Australia have made a remarkably good fist of driving the game. The captain Michael Clarke soared to 187 before Brad Haddin and Mitchell Starc stretched England's resources with an impudent stand that stretched 15 minutes past tea.
Once Clarke closed the innings, Nathan Lyon produced an energetic first spin spell of the series before Peter Siddle took advantage of England's defensive mindset by winkling out Joe Root and the nightwatchman Tim Bresnan, who appeared to defer to the batting class system in declining to review a caught behind decision by Marais Erasmus that appeared mistaken. Specialist batsman or not, it is one wicket less for Australia to claim over the remaining three days.
England's predicament was largely down to Clarke, who compiled both his most substantial innings against England and his highest Test tally overseas. Steve Smith provided sturdy support until he threw his hand away on 89. Clarke's exit had granted Stuart Broad a long-delayed 200th wicket in Tests, but Haddin and Starc followed up with near impunity on another sun-drenched afternoon.
Root and his captain Alastair Cook walked out with stodgy intentions that became quickly apparent. Starc swung the new ball but it was the introduction of Lyon that caused the most trouble, also leaving many to wonder how he had been omitted for Ashton Agar earlier in the series. In his first over Cook snicked a sharp off break that rebounded off Haddin's pad, but a wrong-footed Clarke was unable to propel himself forward to take it. Lyon finished the day wicketless, but his loop and spin had created considerable doubt in English minds.
Siddle's entry to the attack was delayed while Ryan Harris and Shane Watson were tried, but he quickly made an impact, moving one away from wide on the crease to confound Root and then coaxing a false stroke - if perhaps not an edge - from Bresnan. In the day's final over Jonathan Trott edged fractionally short of the slips, leaving plenty of positive thoughts in Australian minds.
Early morning showers had given way to blue skies by the time the teams walked to the middle, Clarke and Smith seeming to set themselves for a long stay as they negotiated the second new ball. Milestones came and went, the highest fourth wicket stand in an Old Trafford Test then the 200 partnership, leaving Cook looking somewhat bereft of ideas.
He resorted to Graeme Swann's offspin soon after mid-morning drinks, and the temptation of the slower, spinning ball proved too much for Smith, who aimed a heave towards midwicket but managed only to send a skier into the hands of Jonny Bairstow. This was profligate by Smith, who had shown so much patience to this point, but England will argue that it was in fact the fourth time in the innings they had dismissed him.
David Warner thus walked to the wicket with Australia in decent fettle, accompanied by the inevitable boos following his earlier attack on Root in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy. Clarke was by this time in flowing form, treating Tim Bresnan in particular with rare disdain as he crested 150. But Warner's was a brief and skittish stay, one firm push to the cover boundary undone when he snicked Swann's offbreak to slip via Matt Prior's pad.
Unable to tell he had hit the ball having simultaneously thudded bat against pad, Warner sought advice from Clarke, who surprisingly assented to the review. Replays revealed the thickness of the edge, sending Warner off to even louder departing boos than those to have greeted him. On the Old Trafford balcony, the rest of Australia's players and coaches were less than enchanted with events.
Haddin watched all this then marched to the middle, quickly reasserting his side's strong position with a trio of lofted boundaries that conveyed both the true nature of the pitch and Australian desire to mount their tally in a timely fashion. Like Clarke to Swann at short cover earlier in the session, Haddin did offer one exceptionally difficult chance with an inside edge through to Prior, but the catch went down as England pondered how many they might be chasing.
Ultimately Clarke fell into a pattern of running singles down to third man, and in attempting to do this to a Broad delivery that cut back he succeeded only in nudging the ball onto the stumps. Siddle had a lusty swing at Swann and missed, but Starc had rather more success as Haddin accumulated ably.
Nine boundaries were coshed from the bat of Starc, and his stand with Haddin was worth a rapidfire 77 by the time the bails were tipped off for tea. It had become 97 by the time Clarke gestured his men in, leaving England with a vexing task ahead to ensure the retention of the Ashes.
Australia 527/7 dec Starc 66*, Haddin 65*
Australia's captain Michael Clarke soared to 187 before Brad Haddin and Mitchell Starc stretched England's resources with an impudent stand as the tourists declared after tea on day two on 527 for 7.
Though their earlier progress had been pockmarked by wasteful moments from Steve Smith and David Warner in the morning, Clarke, Haddin and a free-striking Starc made Alastair Cook's men sweat while an increasingly frequent caravan of sub-fielders emerged from the England dressing room.
| Watson | c Cook | b Bresnan | 19 |
| Rogers | lbw | b Swann | 84 |
| Khawaja | c Prior | b Swann | 1 |
| Clarke | b Broad | 187 | |
| Smith | c Bairstow | b Swann | 89 |
| Warner | c Trott | b Swann | 5 |
| Haddin | not out | 65 | |
| Siddle | b Swann | 1 | |
| Starc | not out | 66 | |
| Extras | 2nb 2w 6lb | 10 | |
| Total | for 7 | 527 | |
Tea Australia 507 for 7 (Haddin 57*, Starc 54*, Swann 5-149) v England
Australia's captain Michael Clarke soared to 187 before Brad Haddin and Mitchell Starc stretched England's resources with an impudent stand. Though their earlier progress had been pockmarked by wasteful moments from Steve Smith and David Warner in the morning, Clarke, Haddin and a free-striking Starc made Alastair Cook's men sweat while an increasingly frequent caravan of sub-fielders emerged from the England dressing room.
The stretching of the game's laws was essentially a backhanded compliment to Clarke, who compiled both his most substantial innings against England and his highest Test tally overseas. His exit granted Stuart Broad a long-delayed 200th wicket in Tests and Peter Siddle soon followed, but Haddin and Starc followed up with near impunity on another sun-drenched afternoon to push Australia towards a total that should at very least ensure thy cannot lose this match.
Starc's innings was a particular delight for spectators, reminding them of his power and range of shots provided he can get past an invariably nervy first few balls. While England will take succour from the fact that the pitch is extremely amiable, it will be with heavy legs and a wide deficit that they take to the batting crease sometime in the evening session. Clarke, as yet, has not shown too much inclination to declare the innings, and another 38 overs remain in the day.
Early morning showers had given way to blue skies by the time the teams walked to the middle in Manchester; Clarke and Smith seeming to set themselves for a long stay as they negotiated the second new ball. Milestones came and went, the highest fourth wicket stand in an Old Trafford Test then the 200 partnership, leaving Alastair Cook looking somewhat bereft of ideas.
He resorted to Swann's offspin soon after mid-morning drinks, and the temptation of the slower, spinning ball proved too much for Smith, who aimed a heave towards midwicket but managed only to send a skier into the hands of Jonny Bairstow. This was profligate by Smith, who had shown so much patience to this point, but England will argue that it was in fact the fourth time in the innings they had dismissed him.
Warner thus walked to the wicket with Australia in decent fettle, accompanied by the inevitable boos following his attack on Joe Root in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy. Clarke was by this time in flowing form, treating Tim Bresnan in particular with disdain as he raised 150. But Warner's was a brief and skittish stay, one firm push to the cover boundary undone when he snicked Swann's offbreak to slip via Matt Prior's pad.
Unable to tell he had hit the ball having simultaneously thudded bat against pad, Warner sought advice from Clarke, who surprisingly assented to the review. Replays revealed the thickness of the edge, sending Warner off to even louder departing boos than those to have greeted him. On the Old Trafford balcony, the rest of Australia's players and coaches were less than enchanted with events.
Haddin watched all this then marched to the middle, quickly reasserting his side's strong position with a trio of lofted boundaries that conveyed both the true nature of the pitch and Australian desire to mount their tally in a timely fashion. Like Clarke to Swann at short cover earlier in the session, Haddin did offer one exceptionally difficult chance with an inside edge through to Prior, but the catch went down as England pondered what deficit they might be facing.
The early passages of the afternoon were relatively uneventful, as Clarke and Haddin batted time without undue haste. Ultimately Clarke fell into a pattern of running singles down to third man, and in attempting to do this to a Broad delivery that cut back he succeeded only in nudging the ball onto the stumps. Siddle had a lusty swing at Swann and missed, but Starc had rather more success as Haddin accumulated ably.
Nine boundaries were coshed from the bat of Starc, and his stand with Haddin was worth a rapid-fire 77 by the time the bails were tipped off for tea. England looked weary, but may yet have more fielding to do.
Lunch report: Australia 392 for 5 (Clarke 168*, Haddin 18*, Swann 4-103) v England
Australia's captain Michael Clarke soared beyond 150 but his team's progress was pockmarked by wasteful moments from Steve Smith and David Warner on the second morning of the third Investec Ashes Test at Old Trafford. A century beckoned for Smith until he slogged unwisely at Graeme Swann, before Warner - with Clarke's approval - used up the tourists' final review for an obvious edged catch.
Clarke and Brad Haddin took Australia to lunch with plenty of run-scoring intent, and it will now be a question of how many runs Clarke wants and also how much time he believes will be required to press for victory in a match England need only to draw to retain the urn. Clarke's unbeaten innings is his highest against England, and his stand with Smith lifted the visitors to a strong position.
But the period between Smith's dismissal and Warner's exit provided a reminder that this remains a team who can let things get out of hand quite quickly, either through poor technique or poor judgement. Despite their currently precarious position, England will remain mindful of this as the match goes on.
Early morning showers had given way to brilliant sunshine by the time the teams walked to the middle in Manchester, Clarke and Smith seeming to set themselves for a long stay as they negotiated the second new ball. Milestones came and went, the highest fourth wicket stand in an Old Trafford Test then the 200 partnership, leaving Alastair Cook looking somewhat bereft of ideas.
He resorted to Swann's offspin soon after mid-morning drinks, and the temptation of the slower, spinning ball proved too much for Smith, who aimed a heave towards midwicket but managed only to send a skier into the hands of Jonny Bairstow. It was profligate by Smith, who had shown so much patience to that point, but England will argue that it was in fact the fourth time in the innings they had dismissed him.
Warner thus walked to the wicket with Australia in decent fettle, accompanied by the inevitable boos following his earlier attack on Joe Root in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy. Clarke was by this time in flowing form, treating Tim Bresnan in particular with rare disdain as he crested 150. But Warner's was a brief and skittish stay, one firm push to the cover boundary undone when he snicked Swann's offbreak to slip via Matt Prior's pad.
Unable to tell he had hit the ball having simultaneously thudded bat against pad, Warner sought advice from Clarke, who surprisingly assented to the review. Replays revealed the thickness of the edge, sending Warner off to even louder departing boos than those to have greeted him. On the Old Trafford balcony, the rest of Australia's players and coaches were less than enchanted with events.
Haddin watched all this then marched to the middle, quickly reasserting his side's strong position with a trio of lofted boundaries that conveyed both the true nature of the pitch and Australian desire to mount their tally in a timely fashion.
Like Clarke to Swann at short cover earlier in the session, Haddin did offer one exceptionally difficult chance with an inside edge through to Prior, but the catch went down as England pondered how many they might be chasing.
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