The 2nd test in the Ashes had pretty much already been decided by the third day, thanks to Australia being bowled out in just over a session on the 2nd afternoon, as England looked to press home their advantage for the rest of the series and secure a 2-0 lead.
Joe Root and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan resumed with England 31-3, and batted like England were having a net, and the Australians were happy to give it to them. Back to back fours from Bresnan soon brought up the 50 with back to back boundaries off Siddle. Soon the lead passed 300 as it quickly became clear that Australia were happy to wait for England to declare. To 50 partnership for the 4th wicket was soon followed by Root reaching 50 from 122 balls, and then the 100 with Bresnan smacking a four through point. The England pair had little trouble lasting through to lunch against the bowling of Steve Smith and Ashton Agar as England went in on 114-3, light years ahead of Australia. After lunch, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson tried to make a difference with what was an old ball in friendly batting conditions, it was not an easy task as all England had to do was accumulate.
But finally a wicket came, with the partnership on 99, Bresnan went for a flaccid pull against Pattinson which lobbed off the face to Chris Rogers at square leg to go for 38, 129-4. Australia bowled well as only 17 runs came in the first hour after lunch, but the game had really gone from them. After a change of ball Ryan Harris got some movement and Ian Bell edged low to Smith at slip who took the catch and celebrated but after review by the third umpire, not out was the call even though it looked as though the catch was clean and everyone was surprised when the call came though. After that, Root and Bell settled down to score some easy runs, Siddle disappearing for consecutive fours and Root then drilling him straight for four to move within 10 of his hundred. Root then flicked Smith for four to bring up the 400 lead on the stroke of tea which he went to on 97 and soon after he cut Agar to the cover boundary to reach his 2nd test hundred from 247 balls.
Runs then appeared quickly as Australia had given up and were now waiting for the declaration, Pattinson came back and sprayed the ball everywhere, going for 18 in two overs as England passed 200 and then Bell to 50 from 82 balls as Smith and Agar served up some free runs. Bell was turning on the jets to get to his century, but cracked a long hop from Smith straight to Rogers at midwicket to fall for 74, 282-5. That didn't stop Root reaching 150 and then the 300 before taking Smith downtown in his last over of the day swinging one ball into the Tavern Stand then repeating the dose two balls later as 17 came from the over. England closed on 333-5, Root on 178, Bairstow on 11 and England 566 ahead.
