Australia vs. England- 2nd Ashes Test- Day 3 News and Preview

And the Cook spectacle continues.

England were clinical in their performance in Adelaide yesterday, with a victory well within their crosshairs leading into only the third day.

Alistair Cook has been magnificent this series, with many wondering if this was the man once being considered a controversial pick for the tour.

Australia were aware that their first innings total of 245 was well below par, however the optimists in the team might have hoped it could become competitive if a few early wickets fell their way.

In his first over of an Ashes Test, Doug Bollinger sent the Adelaide Oval into delirium when bowling Andrew Strauss at the top of off stump. It was the high-point of Australia's day, and it came from the third ball of the morning.

There was not much to celebrate from the remaining 7 hours, with the England top order pounding the hosts into submission.

Once again, Australia's bowling attack was found wanting, with the seamers struggling to maintain even hint of line and length, and spinner Xavier Doherty once again unable to justify the faith shown in him by the selectors.

England will be hoping to bat long into day three here in order to build a commanding lead, but will be mindful that the match is following a similar course to the opening Test in which Australia held a 221-run advantage in their first innings but were unable to force a victory.

Cook and Trott shared an unbroken stand of 329 in Brisbane and, by the time the latter clipped Ryan Harris to a diving Michael Clarke, they had added another 173 runs, underlining what could be a dominant cricketing force for the next while.

Australia was hoping that Trott's exit might bring something of a collapse; however, as Pietersen came out bristling with attacking intent he scored freely.

His half century, came off 77 balls and while he went through the gears, Cook continued his remarkable progress to his third hundred in four Tests, passing 400 runs for the series on the way.

You would find yourself hard pressed to bet against England in this Test from here.

It has been a long wait for the English faithful to watch a team perform like this down under, and one must feel that England will be well on their way to securing a 1-0 scoreline from here.