England in control as Aussies crumble

SIMON JONES and Ashley Giles bowled England into a strong position at stumps on the second day of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford yesterday.

Paceman Jones took three for 30 and left-arm spinner Giles three for 66 as Australia finished the day on 210 for seven, still 35 short of avoiding the follow-on and 234 behind England’s first innings 444.

Shane Warne was 45 not out and Jason Gillespie 14 not out as England, looking to build on their 1-1 series levelling win at Edgbaston, seized the initiative.

Australia, 73 for one at tea, lost their second wicket on the same total to the first ball after the break when captain Ricky Ponting, failing to add to his interval score of seven, was surprised by a rising delivery from Jones and gave a looping catch to Ian Bell at backward point.

England then reduced Australia to 82 for three when left-handed opener Matthew Hayden, going back, was lbw to Giles for 34.

Simon Katich then shouldered arms to all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and was bowled off-stump for 17.

And when Damien Martyn (20) was bowled by a superb Giles delivery that clipped the top of off-stump, Australia were 129 for five, 116 short of avoiding the follow-on.

Adam Gilchrist, who in the course of his innings became the highest run-scoring wicket-keeper in Test history, eventually went for 30 when he was caught behind off Jones.

Michael Clarke was summoned from his sick bed at the team’s hotel after being off the field for most of the match with a back injury.

He came out with Hayden as his runner but on seven he too fell to Jones after slapping a catch to Flintoff at mid-off. Australia were now 197 for seven.

Before tea Giles, who bowled 21 overs unchanged, removed Justin Langer for 31 with the aid of a sharp one-handed catch off bat and pad at short by his Warwickshire team-mate Bell.

England resumed yesterday on 341 for five after captain Michael Vaughan scored 166, the first hundred of the series, on the first day.

But they saw leg-spinner Warne spark a collapse that saw their last four wickets lost for 11 runs in 25 balls either side of lunch.

Warne, who led the attack with four for 99, removed Flintoff for 46 before the interval to end a stand of 87 in 105 balls with Geraint Jones.

And when keeper Jones was bowled by Gillespie for 42, off the last ball of the session, England were 434 for eight.

After the break Warne dismissed both Giles and Simon Jones for nought.