Shouting from the Hop

England toiled all day, but only had Matthew Hoggard's four wickets to celebrate as Australia finished day three of the Adelaide test at 312-5.

Hoggard started the day by having Hayden caught behind (left), and closed by bowling Hussey (for 91); in between, he had Martyn and Ponting caught. Sadly for England, Ponting (below) had already got way past his second hundred of the series, before being dismissed for 142. It could have been oh so different if Giles had hung on to a high catch at deep square leg when Punter had only scored 35.

The game is therefore finely balanced, with any result possible.

Should England dismiss the remaining five batters quickly, they will set up a last day effort in which to level the series at one test each.

If Australia bat well, they could yet pass England's first innings total and get themslves in a position to pressurise England on the final day, and force a win.

The likelihood is probably somewhere in-between, with Australia being all out after lunchtime tomorrow, and England doing what they can to score quickly. If they can get far enough in front (at least 350) with, say, 75 overs left on the final day, they will attempt to get the ten wickets they need, but this pitch hasn't helped the bowlers much so far, so I still predict a draw as the likeliest result.