England Bowlers Short of Fire-Power as Australia Pull Away

Australia pressed home their advantage on this third day of the first ashes test as they took a 44 run lead over England, who toiled on a pitch still not doing much for the bowlers.

Ricky Ponting continued his batting master class reaching 150 before succumbing to Monty Panesar who was the better of the two spinners, as Graeme Swann continued to fail to reach his best.

James Anderson did pick up two wickets in the morning session, a period that the hosts dominated just like the previous day, only to wilt to the Aussie batsman who again dug in at Cardiff.

Simon Katich was first out in the morning for 122, along with Ponting and Michael Hussey who was Anderson’s second victim.

Michael Clarke and Marcus North put on a 142 run partnership on day three to all but take the game away from England.

Clarke was eventually out 17 short of his first test century in England, while North was left unbeaten on 54 with Brad Haddin.

Despite Australia’s minor lead England will worry that today was the chance to turn the match in their favour, and with chances in the field few and far between it’s clear we haven’t seen the best of this bowling attack.

It also seems that the criticism that came the way of Nathan Hauritz after his display earlier in this match was totally unwarranted, and that his performance on a first day wicket was quiet brilliant.

England will have to hope that rain dominates tomorrows play, as predicted, as Australia look to eradicate the chances of an England victory.

The late wicket of Clarke has given the side a glimmer of hope, but it seemed that all day wickets were coming more through attritional bowling rather than after a concerted amount of pressure.

Even Andrew Flintoff seemed slightly off colour as he struggled to gleam much pace or dangerous bounce off this pitch.

In truth things look bleak for the English team, a pitch not doing much, a bowling attack out of form, and a captain who looks clueless and unimaginative with his field settings.

Strauss seems more worried about keeping the run rate down, rather than taking game changing wickets.

His un-attacking field, even this morning after the new ball was taken showed that Strauss was almost uninterested in squeezing the pressure on the tourists, something captains of yesteryear including Michael Vaughan was famous for.

Both Strauss and his bowling attack need to find that added vest if they are to succeed in this test match, or have any chance of retaining the prized Ashes urn in the coming weeks.