Australia looked like taking command early in the day, when England and Angus Fraser got a break as Mark Waugh was adjudged lbw. The ball was angling well down leg-side as Mark looked to force it through the on-side and umpire Darryl Harper, who impressed in his two Tests, blundered.

England followed up with the wicket of Langer, looking for a rare scoring shot through the off-side in front of the wicket, he was well caught by Nasser Hussain in the gully. Langer was much more composed following his century in Adelaide, befitting a player who felt his place was assured for the next few games. To complete a good session the ebullient Darren Gough claimed the wicket of Darren Lehmann, caught behind attempting aflashing cut shot and half the side were out with the arrears still more than one hundred.

This all changed quickly after lunch as that ultra dangerous pair Steve Waugh and Ian Healy subdued Gough's challenge and then ripped into some wayward stuff from Dean Headley. This was symptomatic of the England attack; as soon as Gough was relieved the pressure came off the Australian batsmen and they looked extremely comfortable.

As Waugh feasted off Headley's generous mixture of half volleys and wide deliveries, he passed 7,000 Test runs and the partnership reached fifty off only 70 balls. The gap between the two teams narrowed quickly, but the improving Fraser, his confidence growing, tempted Healy into a pull shot and he was caught at deep fine-leg.

This lifted the sagging England spirit. Headley improved his line and length to an acceptable level. At this point Steve Waugh was 51, but with considerable assistance from the tail, especially Stuart Macgill, he was able to post his 17th Test century and in theprocess put England in a state of disarray. As he neared his century he began to play like it was the final few overs of a limited overs match.

It's rare for Waugh to show emotion but he pumped the air when he reached the hundred. Thanks to Steve Waugh's tactical victory, Australia built a vital 70-run lead and Fleming accentuated this advantage by ripping one through Michael Atherton's tentative defence.

Australia still head England and they have removed two obstacle, but the main one is still standing firm as Stewart continued to play aggressively and well. However, the Australians are poised to strike with the ever-present prospect of another England collapse always on the horizon.

Scoreboard

England (1st innings): 270

Australia (1st innings): Mark Taylor c Hick b Gough 7, Michael Slater lbw Gough 1, Justin Langer c Hussain b Gough 44, Mark Waugh lbw Fraser 36, Steve Waugh not out 122, Darren Lehmann c Hegg b Gough 13, Ian Healy c Headley b Fraser 36, Darren Fleming c Hick b Mullally 12,Mark Nicholson b Gough 5, Staurt Macgill c Hegg b Mullally 43, Glen Mcgrath b Mullally 0; Extras (b 4, lb 6, nb 11): 21. Total (all out in 98.3 overs): 340

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-26, 3-98, 4-127, 5-151, 6-209, 7-235, 8-252, 9-340

Bowling: Gough 28-7-96-5, Headley 25-3-86-0, Mullally 21.3-5-64-3, Ramprakash 2-0-6-0, Fraser 22-0-78-2England (2nd innings): Michael Atherton b Fleming 0, Alec Stewart not out 43, Mark Butcher c Slater b Macgill 14, Dean Headley not out 0; Extras (lb 2, nb 6): 8. Total (for two wickets, 22 overs): 65

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-61

Bowling: McGrath 6-1-26-0, Fleming 6-2-12-1, Nicholson 4-1-11-0, Macgill 5-1-14-1, M Waugh 1-1-0-0