The Ashes 2013 – 4th Test, Day 3: Ian Bell's century leads England's recovery

Ian Bell scored his 20th Test ton

With England‘s bowlers waiting to get their hands on the second new ball due in 5.2 overs, Chris Rogers on 101 and Brad Haddin on 12 resumed the third day for Australia on 222-5 at Chester-Le-Street. But Graeme Swann, getting appreciable assistance from the wicket, had different ideas, as he dismissed both the overnight batsmen soon after the play started.

The fast bowlers cleaned up the tail, as the visitors were bundled out for 270 with Stuart Broad adding a five wicket haul to his name. At one stage it looked very much like Australia could get more but all they could manage was a 32-run-lead.

England were rocked early in their innings by Ryan Harris, as the fast bowler dismissed all their top three batsmen with just 49 runs on the board. However, with the exception of Joe Root, who was at the receiving end of an absolute ripper that seamed away to hit the top of the off-stump, Cook and Jonathan Trott had pretty much to blame themselves for their mode of dismissals.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell did not allow Australian bowlers from making further inroads, as they put together a partnership of worth 106 runs for the fourth wicket. They had to evade a hostile spell from Harris in doing so, a task that was managed with a bit of luck. Ian Bell reached his fifty while Pietersen was dismissed attempting to play Nathan Lyon across the line, as the leading edge carried to Rogers at cover.

Jonny Bairstow failed to utilise yet another start, but not before he put up a valuable 66 run partnership with Bell, as Lyon picked up his second wicket of the innings. Nothing seemed to faze Bell though, as he continued his rich vein of form in this series by getting to his third century in last four Test matches.

England ended the day on 234/5, with Ian Bell on 105* and Tim Bresnan on 4*. Ryan Harris lacked adequate support from the other end with both Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird having a rather ordinary day.

Having recovered from the challenging situation they were in, England would be looking to extend their lead further with five wickets in hand. Australia would be staring at the jaws of yet another defeat if they don’t restrict England under a score of 300.