Australia look to impose huge target on England after declining follow on
Australia have reached stumps on day three with a healthy lead and nine wickets in hand, after rolling England for 236 and electing to bat again.
Some scars never heal, and the name VVS Laxman is quickly brought up every time an Australian fan questions a captain's decision not to follow on.
There may have been some appeal to get the English openers back under the lights with the new ball swinging, but instead the hosts will look to build on an already massive lead tomorrow afternoon. Steve Smith's decision to bat again makes it clear the hosts are in no hurry, with a victory and a 2-0 series lead looking likely.
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The day had started brilliantly for England, as the pair of Joe Root and Dawid Malan batted throughout the first session and gave the Barmy Army hope — only for it to swiftly dissipate.
The visitors went from 2-150 to be all out with only 86 more added to the scoreboard.
With the lead still above 250 when James Anderson and Stuart Broad came together for the final wicket, the discourse was still raging, as it had for hours, about whether or not Australia would force the visitors straight back in, or get out there themselves.
The decision was pretty clear cut when immediately upon Broad's dismissal, Marcus Harris and David Warner sprinted from the field.
There was no repeat of the 2017 clash at the same venue, when Anderson and Chris Woakes took two scalps apiece under the lights.
England did get a breakthrough, but it came with the Aussies falling on their own sword, rather than by the point of one of their spearheads.
Harris wanted a quick single but David Warner missed the memo.
Unselfishly, the latter didn't scamper back to his own crease, and was the unfortunate man who had to depart as Jos Buttler whipped the bails off.
With just a couple of overs left in the day, Michael Neser came in as the nightwatchman before the end of play was called for day three.
Australia are expected to bat for two sessions or so, setting England a hefty total and more than a day to survive.
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