Jonny Bairstow and Matt Prior made it to drinks in the evening session before Prior, who’d batted uncharacteristically safely for his 17, fell to his arch nemesis Peter Siddle, who trapped the England wicketkeeper lbw on his back leg.
Umpire Aleem Dar was unmoved. In fairness to the Pakistani veteran the ball looked high and leggish. Michael Clarke reviewed the decision and it proved a great move as Hawk Eye showed the ball was going on to hit the top of leg stump. It was, though, a very marginal decision.
Nathan Lyon who had been bowling beautifully all day, accumulating pressure throughout his spells, forcing batsmen into mistakes, notched the wicket of Jonny Bairstow.
The beleaguered batsman was caught sweeping miles down the pitch. Tony Hill, who has looked reticent to give any lbw decision, gave this one. Bairstow reviewed the decision, and Hawk Eye showed that the ball was going on to only just clip the bails.
Stuart Broad was next to join what was becoming a parade of England batsmen, top edging to David Warner wafting grotesquely at one outside off.
Graeme Swann provided the crowd with something to cheer with a brief rally before hooking one right into the breadbasket of Lyon at deep square leg.
Jimmy Anderson added a sheen of respectability to the performance with a swashbuckling 16 before the close of play.
He and Tim ‘Smokey Joe’ Bresnan will return tomorrow morning with whatever they can add a bonus.
Australia will be delighted if they can remove England for less than 250 on a slow pitch where par looks to be at least 350.
Michael Clarke reviewed superbly and will be delighted that his team has been able to carry the momentum they had from the last Test despite the Ashes being beyond their reach.
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