Although Joe Root’s wicket has already fallen to Ryan Harris, it was England’s morning as Australia lost five wickets adding just 48 runs to their overnight total of 5-222.

Chris Rogers resumed after reaching his debut Test century aged 35 alongside Brad Haddin, who the hosts knew could be dangerous if he got going against the imminent new ball. 

He didn’t make it that far, falling LBW to Graeme Swann, who straightened a solid turner to trap him plumb LBW for 13. 

 

Haddin clearly had no idea about the delivery, sending it upstairs for review but that just confirmed the umpire’s correct decision (don’t get excited, it was the only time they were right this morning). 

Rogers was the next to go from a typically confusing set of events. He thrust forward and the ball ballooned off his pad before being caught by Matt Prior at full-stretch. 

Umpire Tony Hill gave it not out, which seemed a fair call until HotSpot eventually found the slightest feather of a touch on Rogers’ glove  when it was review – hardly the howler it’s there to prevent but a correct call eventually. 

A standing ovation for all at Chester-le-Street for the hugely popular battling innings of 110 from the long-time County Championship performer. 

He would have been disappointed to miss out on facing the second new ball of his innings as Ryan Harris led the charge from what is an actual tail end to the line up in this Test. 

Harris didn’t get that memo though, bludgeoning the hard rock for four James Anderson to take the Australians into the lead at 7-240. 

Peter Siddle couldn’t manage to stick around with his hard-working quick mate, edging Anderson to Cook, who took a good catch low to give his underperforming star quick his first wicket of the Test. 

 

Nathan Lyon’s reviewing skills matched his batting, with replays of an LBW call from Aleem Dar showing the ball was missing the leg stump by more than an inch, but he was gone for 4 nonetheless. 

Harris was the last to go after an impressive 28 runs – he basically walked he was so plumb to Stuart Broad, who bowled brilliant for five wickets. 

 

This left Australia bowled out for 270, with a lead of 32.  

While Cook showed early intent, a far cry from his scratchy first innings 50, his opening partner Joe Root is gone. 

He fell to a jaffa from Harris which clanged into his off stump.

At lunch, England are 1-24, still trailing by 8.

Images via Getty