Absent Swann

THIRD DAY

So what went wrong? Same old, same old, I'm afraid. Australia had straight bats and even straighter bowling and so far Johnson has eight in the match.

To lunch at 211-4: For 55 minutes the pacemen held Watson and Hussey but the runs began to flow even after Watson - reluctantly - went for 95. Smith, who is no more a Test No.6 than, all those years ago, Steve Waugh was a No.5 in his early Tests, was allowed to make 36. Why, oh why, didn't Swann bowl more?

To tea at 297-8. Hussey played superbly for his century but the rest hardly made a contribution. The writing is on the wall for all the brave talk of 400, the biggest score of the match, in the fourth innings.

To close at 81-5. My old saying - "if they win this one you will never forget it" applies. Johnson has regained all his old devastating form, England have lost all the power that gave them such a big victory in Adelaide. I am apt to blame Strauss for everything but he has to answer for Swann bowling only nine overs in the innings and for the failure to remove Smith at speed.