In command

Edgbaston. Third Ashes Test - day two

Preview

The match is only 30 overs old but Australia have already gained a major foothold and, if there is sufficient time, go on to win. The day has begun with sunshine, England once again look out of sorts and without inspiration. Why? I have had the suspicion that in the half hour before they walked out to field someone in the dressing room said the wrong thing.

Perhaps at the last minute he - and I have no idea who he might be - said they had the beating of Australia and frightened the younger players who are still finding their way in Test cricket. Perhaps some old grudge emerged; who can tell what may have taken the wind from their sails. We may never find out what it is, but as at Cardiff someone has made a wrong move.

To lunch

The most dramatic and decisive session in the series - but it has been coming. Australia must feel that after all their bad luck in the first three Tests the writing was on the wall and that the Ashes were about to disappear.

Graham Onions exploded the Australian innings with the wickets of Shane Watson and Mike Hussey from the first two balls. Ricky Ponting was another Onions victim at 163-4 and after Andrew Flintoff dropped Michael Clarke ,James Anderson had Clarke lbw. Marcus North was caught behind, Mitchell Johnson lbw first ball and Graham Manou bowled.

Australia had made 77 for the loss of seven wickets at lunch and four batsmen had fallen for four in 13 balls. If ever Englishmen had reason to celebrate it was todaywith the old enemy eight down for 207.

To tea

The last three Australians kept going for 70 minutes and added 60 runs; Anderson finished with five wickets - remember Michael's Vaughan's suggestion of 30 wickets in the series? - and Onions with four.

Faced with 263 England began disastrously. Alistair Cook, who has had a mixed series, went for nought in the second over and it was tempting to think of another low score. But Strauss played another immaculate innings and Ravi Bopara, calmer than usual matched him run for run.

Johnson was not trusted with the new ball and when he came on just before tea he sprayed the ball around like a novice with a Sten gun. By tea, with at least two and a half hours to go, England were assured and in command.

To close

Darkness killed the rest of the day's play with England 116-2, with Strauss looking as if he could bat forever, but without Bopara who played one more soft shot when the game was set up for him to make a century.

Bopara remains an enigma, like Cook, like Stuart Broad. We may view his career differently in ten years time but at the moment he is not the finished product. Ian Bell hit fluent shots and sent Nathan Hauritz for six; maybe his time in the wilderness has had the desired effect.

As for this match, everything depends on the weather, and once again the forecasters report unsettled weather in prospect.