FIFTH TEST - DAY TWO

Mitchell Johnson reprised his Perth batting form with a scintillating 53.

In keeping with the general tone of this series, today's day of play had some interesting twists and turns which make test cricket the ultimate form of the game.

Early in the first session Australia hoped that Hussey and Haddin would continue their heroics from earlier in the series and put on a decent partnership in order to help Australia post a competitive total. but it was not to be with Haddin falling early for six edging Anderson to Prior to a delivery that again, could have been left alone.

Steve Smith joined Mike Hussey at the crease and the two set about rebuilding the innings in a laborious manner due to some tight bowling. Paul Collingwood was thrown the ball to bowl some tight overs before the new ball was taken and after tying down Mike Hussey with some tight lines, Collingwood induced a mistake from Hussey with his last ball of his spell when Hussey edged onto his thigh and the ball ricocheted onto his leg bail in a freakish dismissal. Despite the element of luck, the plan to frustrate Hussey was ultimately brilliantly conceived by Strauss and splendidly executed by Collingwood.

Steve Smith was the next to go after an extremely subdued innings of eighteen when he parried a delivery from Anderson straight to Collingwood. Smith seemed to be trying to make a point that he could bat in an orthodox and disciplined manner rather than simply bludgeon the ball to all parts. With the benefit of hindsight, I am sure Smith would have opted to bat in his usual swashbuckling manner as he is more effective and and more at home being aggressive, not to mention that he is also more productive on the scoreboard as well.

Peter Siddle came and went quickly for two when he also perished to Anderson when he edged that bowler to Strauss. By now the score was a parlous 8 for 189 and Australia were in more trouble than a one legged man in a backside kicking contest.

Enter stage left Mitchell Johnson who together with a marvellous supporting cameo from Ben Hilfenhaus flayed the English attack in a remarkable counter attack that produced a partnership of seventy six priceless runs. Johnson eventually perished for a crowd pleasing fifty three when he went to the well once too often and was bowled by the persistent Bresnan.

Hilfenhaus tried to maintain the rage with new boy Beer keeping him company, but he too went for one big shot too many and succumbed to Anderson who picked up his fourth wicket by cleaning up the tail. Hilfenhaus trooped off with a valuable thirty four to his name and Australia's total a far more palatable 280 when it could have been much, much worse.

Still, the old saying in cricket circles is that you never know what is a good score until both teams have batted, and with the unbridled glee that Strauss tore into the assorted long hops, telegraphed bouncers and half volleys from Hilfenhaus and Johnson, it was apparent that 280 was nowhere near enough.

England's score raced with breakneck speed to ninety eight when Strauss was bowled by a brilliant unplayable delivery by the hitherto impotent Hilfenhaus for a scorching sixty scored off a remarkable fifty eight deliveries.

Andrew Strauss murdered the pedestrian Australian attack for a better than a run a ball 60.

Jonathan Trott who has been nothing short of Bradmanesque this summer was astonishingly dismissed for a duck when he played a Johnson delivery onto his stumps much to the crowds shock and the Australian teams joy. At 2 for 99, the Australian's suddenly sensed a Perth style comeback in the back end of the last session - but such aspirations were put on hold by Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen who batted with great purpose.

Michael Beer momentarily joined the ranks of test wicket takers when he flighted a delivery to Cook who could not resist the urge to drive over the top and miscued an easy catch to Hilfenhaus. As the Australian players congregated around the understandably excited Beer, umpire Billy Bowden requested a replay to confirm his suspicion that Beer may have overstepped the popping crease - and much to the Australian's collective chagrin, the replay confirmed Bowden's suspicion to be on the money and a bemused Cook survived.

The final wicket to fall for the day was Pietersen who could not resist the adrenalin surge through his veins as he hooked a bouncer from Johnson that was outside off stump straight to Beer at deep backward square leg to waste an impressive start of thirty six.

Anderson sent in as night watchman safely saw out the day with Cook to guide England to the high ground with a score of 3 for 167. Australia simply need to engineer an English batting collapse tomorrow to have any hope of winning the game. For England, the task is simple, pass Australia's total and then bat on and post a healthy lead.

If England take a one hundred run plus lead, one would be inclined to believe that Australia would have trouble in posting a competitive total to defend in the fourth innings. Still, stranger things have happened in this series.