Three Lions top-order starting to look at home in Perth.
England have reached 24-0 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 385 as play reaches lunch on day two of the third Test match.
The English got the perfect start to the day when a good ball from Stuart Broad moved away from Mitchell Johnson, giving Matt Prior an easy catch.
The Australian all-rounder departed without adding to his overnight score as the home side fell to be 326-7.
And after copping a public spray from their bowling coach David Saker after day one, the England quicks responded well early.
With Steven Smith batting with the tail it was a real test of Alastair Cook’s captaincy, which had been labeled as toothless to date, with the touring leader needing to keep the field up to the centurion, rather than giving him the easy single to bowl at the Australian tail.
England looked to earn their second wicket when they referred a potential caught behind decision
from the bat of Smith.
Hot Spot showed the faintest of marks with the real-time ‘snicko’ showing a noise as the ball passed the bat, and Smith was on his way for a well-made 111.
England continued its impressive start to day two as they slowly clawed their way back into the Test, as Australia were left at 338-8.
Australia continued to flirt with danger with four edges streaking through the one gap left in the England slips cordon.
Broad looked to earn his second when Ryan Harris was left squared up, with England’s strong appeal turned down by the on-field offcial.
Despite the ball flying more than 20 metres to a diving gully, Harris survived.
Finally a catch went to hand as Harris’ lives ran out, edging a ball from Anderson when he was on 12 as Australia
found themselves 354-9.
However, that wicket only presented England with another annoying partnership as Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon rattled along at a strike rate close to 80 as the total climbed towards 400.
Bresnan got the final wicket as Siddle departed for 21 as Australia finished on 385.
Australia could have had a big wicket before lunch with Cook getting terribly squared up with Smith dropping a tough chance at fourth slip.
But with the pitch looking to be getting faster but offering true bounce and little movement through the air, the England top-order would not get a better chance to put on plenty of runs to date in the series in the second and third sessions.
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