By Sam Hathaway
November 24 2006

A dominant day again from the home team saw England melt under the hot Australian sun. Australia made a huge 602-9 declared in their innings, recording the third highest total at the Gabba. The match is slipping away from England already but do they have the grit to fight back?

Skipper Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey continued where they left off and both looked in good nick in the morning session with Ponting reaching his next milestone of 150*.

But midway through the afternoon session Matthew Hoggard struck with the wicket of Ponting and then Adam Gilchrist all in the same over. This was a massive break through to get two of Australia's most experienced batsmen in a short space of time.

But England were to have no more real luck as the five sessions in the field were taking its toll. Although their fielding was satisfactory, two chances were missed, the first went to James Anderson but he could not hold on to a diving attempt early in Warne's innings.

Brett Lee looked sharp with the bat as he did in the last ashes series making a impressive 43*.

Hussey fell from a delightful ball from none other than super Freddie. Flintoff is still feeling his way back following his injury but he was by far England's most threatening bowler and ended up with figures of 4-99.

Steve Harmison never really got going and only made a slight improvement on the 1st day(1-123).

Australia declared on 602-9 leaving it all to do for Englands batsman,

403 is needed to save the follow on but with Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee firing it in from each end it was always going to be a tough ask.

Strauss and Cook began nervously as Lee fired the ball down at around 95mph and McGrath was bolwing a tidy line and lenght, something the England bowlers failed to do.

Eventually the aussies got their breakthrough when Strauss, on 12, mistimed the pull shot and top edged to backward square leg.

McGrath let loose his next delivery, which was on a perfect length, moving away just enough to take the edge of Cook's bat.

Collingwoodwas then also caught behind. The Durham man played slightly across the line and walked into the shot and was caught behind by Gilchrist for five.

Engladn ended on 53 for 3 (17.0 overs) with Pietersen and Bell at the crease. They know and we know they've got it all to do.