England played out of the game and, likely, the Ashes.
Australia’s vice-like grip on the third Test match, and most likely the Ashes, tightened even further against England in the afternoon session at the WACA.
David Warner (81) and Chris Rogers (42) made the pitch that gave up six England wickets in the first session look like a placid road, as they took their side’s second innings total to 123-0, an overall lead of 257 runs.
James Anderson started Australia’s second innings by going around the wicket to Chris Rogers, which took the cracks out of the equation against a batsman who needed to score at least a half-century.
David Warner showed his intent in trying to belt the first three balls from Tim Bresnan out of the ground.
And just as England’s day could not get any worse, Stuart Broad left the ground after being hit on the foot by a Mitchell Johnson yorker while batting.
Broad did not go to hospital but did look very ginger as he was put through his paces in the nets before finally going to get scans.
Click here to see the ball from Johnson that struck Broad.
Despite the lop-sided nature of the game there was still plenty of chat between the sides as Warner became involved mid-pitch with a brief conversation with several of the England fielders.
Matt Prior missed a golden chance to get rid of Warner when he missed an excellent stumping chance, as Graeme Swann managed to get one to turn, with what was still a relatively new ball.
With Broad, possibly out for the rest of the game, Swann will be needed to break out of his form slump if England are to reign in the Australian top-order.
After looking too loose to begin his innings, Warner started to get used to the pace of the pitch and liked the look of Ben Stokes’ bowling.
Swann showed signs of spin and bounce early in his spell, but they both disappeared as Warner cashed in as his score raced past 50 and the lead grew to more than 200.
Warner earned his 11th half-century in his 25th Test as the lead became 212 with the dynamic left-hander’s average for the series now more than 100.
And just when England though their day could not get any worse, Alastair Cook gave Chris Rogers a life when he grassed a catch at first slip.
Warner and Rogers brought up the century partnership, the first since Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer in 2002, an amazing 27 innings ago.
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