Michael Hussey

As was the case on Day 1, the third session proved to be the most defining session as Michael Hussey’s unbeaten knock of 81 helped Australia to 220/5, just 40 adrift from taking the lead. England had a sniff of bowling out Australia for less than 260 after reducing them to 143/5. But as he has consistently been doing over the past few years, Michael Hussey turned the advantage in Australia’s favour with an unbeaten partnership of 77 with Brad Haddin.

Australia’s openers, who began the day at 25/0, rode their luck as Anderson and Broad bowled their hearts out but couldn’t strike gold. Katich was given out leg before to Anderson but the decision was overturned on referral as the ball seemed to be going high. It was the visitors turn for the referral for an LBW appeal against Watson. But the decision remained and the openers carried on. Anderson was finally rewarded as Watson edged him to first sleep.

Immediately after lunch, Anderson got lucky as Ponting glanced a ball down the legside into the keeper’s gloves. Anderson was now on fire and he along with Finn treated the out-of-form Clarke with some short pitched stuff.

Katich had only reached his 50 when he scooped one back to Finn who held on to a fine catch and then almost had Hussey of his first delivery but the ball fell agonizingly short of first slip. Clarke meanwhile was having a nightmarish time in the middle. England used up their second referral when they thought they had him caught behind but Hotspot didn’t seem to think so. He was also hit on the helmet by Broad and his misery finally ended when he got a faint top edge going for a pull and was happily snapped up by Prior.

Swann, who was taken to the cleaners by Hussey in his first four overs, produced a peach of a delivery as he induced an edge of Marcus North into the waiting hands of Paul Collingwood. 143/5 and advantage England?

It wasn’t meant to be. Hussey cut, drove and pulled with finesse on the way to his first half century in 8 innings and he found an able ally in Haddin who looked compact during his knock of 22 before rain and bad light forced an early end to the day’s play – a day of fluctuating fortunes in which Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey eventually stole the headlines.

Tags: Ashes 2010, Australia, Brisbane, Cricket, England, Gabba, Michael Hussey, Test Series, The Ashes 2010