Australia’s cricketers are suffering a slow and painful death at Lord’s on day three of the second Test and didn’t need another disgraceful third umpiring decision to add insult to injury.
England took a mammoth 404-run lead to tea, with Joe Root 97 not out and Ian Bell unbeaten on 16.
The home side are 4-171 but they should be at least five down after Bell was given a ridiculous reprieve when he was clearly caught by Steve Smith at gully in the 69th over.
Smith claimed the low catch immediately and, when umpire Marais Erasmus went upstairs, replays strongly supported that the fieldsman’s fingers were between the ball and the grass.
However, third umpire Tony Hill inexplicably ruled not out, virtually calling Smith a cheat.
Young NSW batsman Smith was filthy at the decision.
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England were 4-140 at the time.
A shocking batting collapse on day two shapes as the period that cost Australia the Ashes and there are few excuses.
But from the opening two Tests, Australia have copped the two worst decisions.
Stuart Broad whacked a ball to first slip at Trent Bridge and wasn’t given, and now Bell has remained in the middle despite the evidence of replays.
Cricket Australia are investigating whether their Twitter account had been hacked after a tweet was posted saying “that decision sucked ass #bullshit.”
It was removed immediately, but the errant message pretty much summed up the sentiment around Lord’s.
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Root and England simply ground Australia into the dirt on Saturday.
Going 2-0 down at Lord’s means a miracle will be required to avoid a third-straight series loss.
Australia’s bowlers failed to make a breakthrough in the opening session, before an improved James Pattinson finally had nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (38) caught at square in the 62nd over.
The reality is the bowlers were never any real chance of rectifying an inept batting performance that had Australia skittled for 128 on Friday.
Peter Siddle (3-51) rushed through three wickets that evening but couldn’t keep the momentum going when play resumed on Saturday.
The highest successful chase at Lord’s was 344 runs from West Indies against England in 1984 and this Australian line-up looks in no shape to be breaking records.
SCORE: England 361 and 5-333, Australia 128
MAN OF THE MOMENT: JOE ROOT: Playing his eighth Test match, the man with the boyish looks produced the most important innings of his life. Root’s best Test score of 178 not out put the result beyond doubt but, more importantly, made Australia’s bowlers look genuinely non-threatening for the first time this series.
KEY MOMENT: With England 4-140, third umpire Tony Hill gave Ian Bell a let off when he ruled there was some doubt about whether an edge to Steve Smith had carried. Replays suggested Smith’s fingers were between the ball and the grass. In the context of the match it won’t matter, but in terms of morale it could be huge.
STAT OF THE DAY: England’s bowlers have delivered a total of 229.1 overs in the series so far, while Australia’s have had to send down 419. No wonder Michael Clarke put his overworked quicks on ice for the final hour on Saturday.
SUMMARY: Complete and utter English dominance, most of it coming from Root’s willow. The hosts started the day slowly, adding 140 runs in the opening two sessions, before taking the weary Australian attack for 162 runs after tea. Those hoping for an Alastair Cook declaration were kept waiting.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There’s still a lot at stake and if we play well, play good patient cricket out in the middle – then I think we can obviously draw this match and maybe even win it. You never know, it’s only four and a half an over. It’s doable.” – Lion-hearted paceman Peter Siddle on the immense challenge awaiting on day four with the lead already 566.
