Nails in the Coffin - Day Three at Sydney

Talking to a friend this morning he ventured that this was the day on which England secured the series, and it’s hard to disagree, for even if Australia knock over the remaining wickets quickly tomorrow then they will have to bat in a manner that hasn’t been seen all series if they are to stand a chance of victory. At the risk of tempting fate, the best that they can hope for is a draw.

The day started reasonably well for Australia. Anderson, having done his job (which is of questionable value) the night before didn’t hang around for too long and Collingwood, sadly, fell cheaply on what may well turn out to be his final test innings. Cook, who was magnificent once again, and Bell took the game away from them and then Bell and Prior hammered the nails into the coffin.

It is a measure of how far Alastair Cook has come since the start of the series, when many felt that he shouldn’t be in the side, that there is a sense of disappointment that he got out for one hundred and eighty nine. He has had a staggering series and is a shoo-in for the Compton – Miller Medal having made the highest score in a test at Brisbane, scored three centuries, the lowest of which has been one hundred and forty eight, and scored more runs in an Ashes series than any Englishman except Wally Hammond. Phenomenal is a word that is overused, but it can truly be said that he has had a phenomenal series.

Ian Bell hasn’t had a huge amount to do at number six, but he played well in both Brisbane and Perth and batted beautifully here. He had some luck and probably should have been given out caught behind on sixty-seven, but his hundred was a joy to watch, being slightly reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar in the way that he played his shots. He is another who has had a tour that he can be pretty satisfied with and will be an important part of the side for a number of years to come.

Matt Prior has kept exceptionally well in this series but his batting in the first three tests was largely indifferent. At Melbourne and then again here he has shown what he is capable of, however. He played some blistering shots but also kept the scoreboard ticking to the extent that his runs came at almost a run a ball. His partnership with Bell, which came to an end with Bell’s nick to slip, finally swung the game totally in England’s favour.

England will look to bat on for as long as possible tomorrow and take a lead of at least two hundred and fifty, but even if they lose the remaining three wickets in the first over in the morning then they have already built a match winning or, at the very least, a match drawing lead. Graeme Swann may well have an important role to play on days four and five but England, without being complacent, can already reflect on an extremely satisfying first three days.