Ashes 2013: England v Australia 2nd Test – Day Three as it happened

BY CHARLES REYNOLDS

Welcome to The Independent's coverage of the second Test between England and Australia at Lord's.

ENGLAND CLOSE ON 333/5 - LEAD BY 566
JOE ROOT 176 NOT OUT

by Charles Reynolds on Jul 19, 2013 at 6:53 PM

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DAY IN BRIEF:
- ENGLAND CLOSE ON 333/5 - LEAD BY 566
- JOE ROOT 176 NOT OUT
- Ian Bell out for 74
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Teams:
England - Cook, Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson

Australia - Rogers, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Smith, Hughes, Haddin, Agar, Siddle, Pattinson, Harris
7/19/2013 6:56:37 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

England 85/3 (Root 48, Bresnan 20)
England pick up four from Agar's over as the 50-partnership comes up and then Root produces another on drive to Siddle, not quite as aesthetically pleasing as his last one, but it has the same result. 4 runs.

7/20/2013 11:22:10 AM
England 85/3 (Root 48, Bresnan 20)
Better from Agar, finding a more challenging length to Bresilad and that's a maiden.

7/20/2013 11:24:19 AM
50 FOR JOE ROOT (122 balls, 6 fours)

7/20/2013 11:26:23 AM
England 91/3 (Root 54, Bresnan 20)
Pattinson comes back into the attack but he can only serve up more back foot runs for Root who brings up his half-century with a shot for two then picks up a four with an even better shot through point. Good innings so far from the youngster.

7/20/2013 11:28:50 AM
Well played Root. Needs to make Haddin/Clarke (75:25 fault ratio) pay though. Root should attempt to emulate Mr A Shale and bat for 26 hours.ruju19Jul 20, 2013 at 12:30 PM

7/20/2013 11:30:57 AM
Root on his way to 50
by Charles Reynolds on Jul 20, 2013 at 11:34 AM

7/20/2013 11:34:38 AM
England 98/3 (Root 55, Bresnan 24)
Famous last words, but Australia are not looking very threatening here, England just steadily accumulating runs from Agar and Pattinson.

7/20/2013 11:36:53 AM
England 98/3 (Root 55, Bresnan 24)
That's a maiden from Agar to Root. Glad not to have immediately cursed England with my previous comment.

7/20/2013 11:39:58 AM
England 99/3 (Root 55, Bresnan 25)
England plod on with another single from the over as Ryan 'Rhino' Harris comes back into the attack.

7/20/2013 11:43:59 AM
England 104/3 (Root 56, Bresnan 29)
England move past 100 as Bresnan plays Agar away for four and Root picks up a single from an increasingly disgruntled looking Ryan Harris.

7/20/2013 11:51:22 AM
England 261/4 (Root 141, Bell 57)
Well no immediate change after the drinks break, Root picking up another boundary guiding one past point.

7/20/2013 4:09:55 PM
England 268/4 (Root 142, Bell 63)
Bell takes England's lead to 500 with a cheeky dabbed reverse sweep for four. This must be soul destroying for the Australians in the field.

7/20/2013 4:17:29 PM
WICKET! Bell c Rogers b Smith - 74
Oh dear, that's a sad way to go. Smith bowls a fairly rank long hop which Bell smashes but straight to the midwicket fielder. Great innings though.

7/20/2013 4:23:03 PM
England 282/5 (Root 144, Bairstow 0)
England push their lead up to 515. Surely it would be sensible to have a bit of a bash for a few overs and then bowl a few at Australia tonight?

7/20/2013 4:27:22 PM
England 287/5 (Root 149, Bairstow 1)
Bairstow off the mark and Root moves one away from his 150 with a clever reverse sweep. That shot was almost like a hockey push along the ground.

7/20/2013 4:31:39 PM
150 FOR JOE ROOT

7/20/2013 4:31:47 PM
50 for Ian Bell
by Charles Reynolds on Jul 20, 2013 at 4:33 PM

7/20/2013 4:34:00 PM
England 301/5 (Root 154, Bairstow 6)
England move past 300 and their lead extends to 534. Doesn't look like there will be a declaration tonight to be honest with only seven overs remaining today.

7/20/2013 4:40:38 PM

Ashes 2013: England v Australia 2nd Test – Day Three as it happened

BY CHARLES REYNOLDS

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