London: The job is not done yet but a cocksure British media is all agog, anticipating England to get a huge monkey off its back by winning their first Lord's Test over Australia in 75 years.

"History beckons rampant England at Lord's", screamed a 'Sunday Times' headline, summing up the mood after England's domineering performance in the second Ashes Test brought them on the verge of a breakthrough victory.

"It has been an extraordinary turnaround since last weekend, when England looked dead in the water on the final morning in Cardiff," the daily observed.

"But, not for the first time, a team managing to wriggle off the hook in one game has come back strongly in the next. India did this in England two years ago, when they scraped a draw at Lord's with nine wickets down and went on to win the series," it added.

"Aussies on the Run" was the headline in 'Sunday Express', which took quite a mischievous dig at Ricky Ponting's men.

"On Friday the MCC had to send out to a supermarket for the old-fashioned drink of Dubonnet because the Queen wanted her favourite tipple when she came for lunch at Lord's to meet the players.

"At lunchtime yesterday they might have sent for smelling salts for the Australians, who were suffering their most torrid time at Lord's since they last lost at cricket's HQ in 1934," it said.

Some other writers, however, reminded that England still have a job to do and warned against any premature celebration.

"This was a curious day of Test cricket, in which England emphatically retained the initiative by smashing the ball around Lord's... But they are not yet jumping up and down on the throats of the Australian tourists. That does not happen until they start taking wickets again," said a write-up in 'The Guardian'.

In 'Sunday Times', another article echoed the same view and said, "England moved, edgily at first but later with a swagger, towards a commanding position in the second Test and are poised to push for an historic victory today or tomorrow.

"There is still much work to be done, as 10 more Australian wickets will not come easily on a good batting surface, but before the game England would have given much to be in this situation," it said.

"A mighty effort is required with the ball, and the fact that England have not beaten Australia on this ground for 75 years will not make things easier... Three years ago, England, having enforced the follow-on, were unable to dismiss Sri Lanka in 199 overs. So a draw may yet be the outcome."