England 215
and 326 for 6 (Bell 95*, Broad 47*) lead Australia 280 by 261 runs
Ian Bell and Stuart Broad restored some calm to proceedings on day
three adding 108 runs for the seventh wicket to give the home side control at
the close of play.
Bell finished the day on 95, just five runs shy of what could be
one of his most important ever knocks for England. Often criticised for not
making "hard" runs, Bell read the match situation perfectly and
played an innings of the utmost maturity.
It was a fine example of risk management from the diminutive
Warwickshire strokemaker who took a conscious decision to avoid playing in the
hallowed "V" and instead looked to nudge, nurdle and deflect the ball
around the field, steadily accumulating runs and helping to nullify any Aussie pressure.
Having already seen batsmen on both sides deceived by the slow and
unpredictable nature of the surface, Bell's battle plan was little short of a
masterstroke.
Earlier in the day all eyes had been on Alastair Cook and Kevin
Pietersen. Resuming on 80 for 2 in blazing sunshine, they played out the first
hour watchfully, soon guiding England to three figures. Both batsman also notched up
half-centuries in the process and things were looking ominous for the
tourists halfway through the morning session. However, whilst the sun had given England fans hope of a run-heavy
day, the pitch was still not offering the pace and consistency that English
batsman traditionally crave.
Instead the Aussie bowlers took advantage of the turgid underfoot
conditions. Pietersen (64) played on after James Pattinson lured him into a
risky drive outside off, and captain Cook (50) followed soon after trying to push
Ashton Agar into the leg side only to close the face of the bat two early and
spoon a leading edge to Michael Clarke at first slip. England
precariously placed on 131 for 4, with a lead of just 67.
Ian Bell was promptly joined at the crease by Jonny Bairstow as they began to stage a mini-fightback in the afternoon session. The pair amassed 43 runs from 125 balls to help England back onto stable footing before Bairstow (15) was eventually undone by Agar, feathering one behind to Brad Haddin. Bell then shared an almost identically fruitful, yet brisker, partnership with Matt Prior (31). On this occasion it was 44 runs from 79 balls, but like before it was Bell's partner who was first to perish, the England keeper, looking to force the pace, miscuing a pull straight to midwicket.
Bell then joined Stuart Broad for what was to be the final stand of the day. First came glory as Bell reached fifty and in doing so also passed 6,000 runs in Test cricket, but then came controversy. With England sitting pretty on 297 for 6 Agar got Broad driving at a wide one which he dutifully edged to Clarke at slip. Umpire Aleem Dar though had failed to spot the deflection and Broad stood his ground. Crucially Australia had already wasted their reviews earlier in the day and, despite much protest, were forced to carry on their pursuit for yet another partnership penetrating delivery.
