The Ashes 2013: 2nd Test at Lord's - Five talking points from Day 3

oe Root of England celebrates his century as Michael Clarke of Australia applauds during day three of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 20, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Day three witnessed the most one-sided contest of this year’s Ashes as England piled up over 300 runs losing only two wickets taking their lead closer to, might as well say, the million run mark.

Joe Root was promoted to open with Alastair Cook ahead of the Ashes given his fine run of form for England in the middle-order and the return of Kevin Pietersen, and he repaid the trust invested in him in full.

He batted out the entire-day and now stands at the verge of a double hundred. Australia were not without hope on day three in spite of their catastrophic batting display on day two that saw them, potentially and in all probability, lose the Test match in a single session.

Australia’s batting efforts in this series so far have been uninspiring and it is difficult to imagine them play out almost six sessions of the game. James Anderson and Graeme Swann have spelled doom with the ball and they will be all the more effective with a massive target to support them.

Cook will have the freedom to go all-out for a victory on day four with aggressive field settings. It is difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel for Australia.

Here are five talking points that were generated from play on day three:

Shane Warne talks to Ian Ward at the Sky Sports analysis board during day two of the 2nd Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 19, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

5. The whispers about a 5-0 whitewash may not be sensational

Shane Warne led a bunch of cricketing pundits, who expressed optimism regarding Australia’s fight at Trent Bridge. He wrote an article highlighting the positives Australia could draw from the Test and the weakness in the England set-up they could exploit.

The arguments seem deluded in hindsight as Australia’s fight in the first Test was largely built upon the surprising 10th wicket partnership. The ineptitude of the Australian top-order is a common string running through both the Test matches.

The fact that the entire team in short of runs means that a superficial makeover – the kind Australia carried out for this Test by bringing in Usman Khawaja for Ed Cowan – will not do any good. The bowlers can take those 20 wickets but if there are no runs to work with, Australia can’t hope to win a Test match.

It’s difficult to see them rise from the Ashes.

Peter Siddle looks on during day three of the 2nd Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 20, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

4. The Australian bowling attack is fighting a lone battle

Peter Siddle’s quality spell at the close of day two was admirable considering the kind of demoralising meltdown the batting side suffered earlier in the day. However, even if Australia had managed to dismiss England for a total of, say 150 runs, England would have had as much chance of winning the Test match as they have now.

Tim Bresnan, the night-watchman, resisted the penetration of the bowling attack early on day three and that lead to a dropping of shoulders because deep-down they already conceded defeat. While the lack of fight is ignoble, it is difficult to blame the bowling attack. Australia needs runs to fuel the fighting attitude of their bowlers.

Ashton Agar looks on during day three of the 2nd Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 20, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

3. Ashton Agar

A quality spinner is an unparalleled asset in Test match cricket. Graeme Swann proved that with his five-for in the first innings of the Test that could prove to be a match-winning effort. Ashton Agar’s dream debut at Trent Bridge with the bat coloured his moderate performance with the ball but the lack of experience and quality was exposed on day three.

It was all the more disturbing to see him hurl rank filth down the leg side in what can only be interpreted as a negative wicket-taking tactic employed by Michael Clarke. Australia does not many options in this area as they would rather keep Agar in the side for his ability with the bat than bring-in equally ineffective Nathan Lyon.

Ian Bell acknowledges the crowd after his innings of 74 during day three of the 2nd Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 20, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

2. Ian Bell has come of age

Ian Bell has already piled 317 runs in the four innings that he has played in the series so far. He has been criticised for his inconsistency in the past but what better way to answer your critics than deliver with consistency in the most important series of the season.

His knock of 109 in the first Test remains the most important effort as it helped England cross the line but his contribution at Lord’s was devastating in its impact upon the opposition. He partnered Joe Root on day three when the team was in a comfortable situation and he could have easily been complacent. He scored at a heavy run-rate scoring 74 of 103 balls before getting too excited at the prospect of juicy throw-down.

Joe Root of England celebrates his century during day three of the 2nd Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 20, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

1. Joe Root is the next big thing

22-year-old Root was given the massive responsibility of opening in the Ashes and he has eventually mastered the situation. He took his time to settle down and was patchy in his survival at the close of day two but all that is a part of the job.

At the end of the day, Root has shown great maturity when the rest of his teammates failed to grab the game by the scruff of its neck. His innings could have been displaced by a quick-fire fifty in the context of the game and the only difference would have been the run margin of victory but what he did was greater.

He devastated the opposition physically and mentally, demoralising them so much so that the rest of this series will seem like a bad nightmare in the dressing room at the end of day three. He might have created the groundwork for a whitewash.