Too many, surely

The Oval Fifth Ashes Test - day three.

Preview

What a lovely, shining morning. Just the day, as Ken Dodd might say, for kicking off your shin pads, high-stepping out to the wicket and saying to the nearest Australian: "Have a good trip home, mate; and don't forget to leave the Ashes in the museum."

Yes, today could be the day although before you start counting the chucks - that is Oz-talk for chickens - remember that England still have to remove Ricky Ponting, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and Michael Clarke, the leading run-scorer in this series. They may put up a stiffer fight than when they fell to the youthful, but duly modest, Stuart Broad.

(I may run myself out if he doesn't stop this pretence that he was somehow acting at the team's behest when he takes out the Australian top order in the blink of an eye.)

So fingers crossed and here we go . . .

To lunch

No question about it - Andrew Strauss's morning even though he got out carelessly just a couple of minutes before the break.

Not only did he offer no chance, but he showed - and told - Jonathon Trott how he wanted the rest of the innings conducted. He defended solidly for 90 minutes and then began to accelerate. Trott followed suit so that at the interval England were 157-4, 329 ahead, many more than Australia could expect to make, even though the Test is not half way finished.

In many ways it has been Strauss's series. The captaincy inspires his batting, his average is higher since he took charge and we must trust that his tactical nous will improve as he grows into the job.

Trott followed the excellent lead set by Strauss so that as the second session of the day began there was only one result worth a shilling of your money. Perhaps it is a sign of the bad luck that has followed Australia during the series that Ricky Ponting was hit in the mouth, fielding at silly point, off the last ball of the session.

To tea

Ponting led his side out as usual, little the worst for the full-blooded blow in the mouth; meanwhile England batted - sometimes adventurously, often aiming only to extend the match as it passed the half way stage - on and on.

Matt Prior was too adventurous and run out, Andrew Flintoff played a last, dashing Test innings and Stuart Broad hit so convincingly that a friend from county cricket who told me that he must model himself on Richard Hadlee clearly had the right idea.

Trott was close to his debut hundred, slow but sure in the South African way, as England reached 290-7, 462 ahead - despite Marcus North's four wickets - and made us wonder if they knew declaration was an option.

To close

By 6.30 the doubts set in. After all only five batsmen were out today while 395 runs were scored.

Strauss declared after Trott reached his 100 in five hours - although it seemed longer - and Graeme Swann had hit 63 off 55 balls. Trott became the 18th England batsman to make a century on debut and he held the innings together. An aggregate of 160 runs is not a bad first try either.

Was it all too easy to score on this pitch that has been described as a minefield? Could Australia be the first team to score more than 500 to win a Test? Will Ponting and Co. go home heroes with the Ashes in their carry on luggage?

England set them to make 546 in two days and 21 overs and, in some comfort, Simon Katich and Shane Watson put on 80. Yes, they had troubles but as they batted through the temptation to rush to the nearest bookmaker and beg him to let one back Australia was almost an obsession.

It's impossible, isn't it?