The Ashes: England vs Australia 2nd Test - Day 3 as it happened

England were 333 for five in their second innings, a mammoth lead of 566 runs, at stumps on the third day of the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's. Catch the highlights from Day 3 here: (Scorecentre | Commentary)

22:30 (IST): STUMPS! It's the end of third day's play and it surely belonged to Joe Root and England. Root is batting on 178* and Jonny Bairstow is on 11*. England 333 for 5 in 110 overs. The hosts have piled up a 566-run lead over Australia (128). Earlier, Ian Bell scored his 36th Test fifty and was involved in a 153-run stand for the 5th wicket with Root.

22:00 (IST): Joe Root brings up his 150 runs for the first time in his career. England 292/5 after 101 overs and now lead by 525 runs.

21:52 (IST): WICKET! Ian Bell falls. Steven Smith breaks the 153-run stand between Bell and Joe Root. It was a short pitched delivery and Bell tries to go over mid wicket but fails. Chris Rogers takes a simple catch. Ian Bell (74) c Chris Rogers b Steven Smith.

21:47 (IST): England have taken a 503-run lead and have full control over the match. Joe Root nearing 150, while Australia still search for their 5th wicket. Root and Ian Bell have put on 141 runs in their partnership. England 270/4 after 97 overs.

21:17 (IST): FIFTY! Ian Bell scores his 36th Test fifty. Bell and Joe Root have added 103 runs for the 5th wicket. England 232/4 after 90 overs with a lead of 465 runs overs Australia.

21:00 (IST): 200 up for England.Joe Root 110* and Ian Bell 27*. Partnership between them now 71 runs. England 200 for 4 after 86 overs.

20:43 (IST): CENTURY! Joe Root reaches his second Test ton witch a boundary. England 178/4 after 82 overs with Joe Root 103* and Ian Bell 17*. England have now taken a lead of 411 runs against Australia

20:11 (IST): TEA! England have taken a lead of 404 runs. Joe Root (97*) and Ian Bell (16*) have added 42 runs for the 5th wicket. Australia picked up only one wicket today. Session - 27 overs, 57 runs and 1 wicket. England 171/4 after 78 overs.

20:08 (IST): England have take a lead of 403 runs. Joe Root in 90s now and together with Ian Bell, he has added 41 runs for the fifth wicket. England 170/4 after 77.1 overs.

19:59 (IST): Joe Root has put England firmly in the driver's seat. The lead is now 390 runs, England 157/4 after 75 overs.

19:39 (IST): Ian Bell edges Ryan Harris but survives. Steven Smith was claiming the catch at gully but umpire gives it not out. Third umpire is called for and he rules it in favour of England after seeing the replays. England 140/4 after 69 overs.

19:28 (IST): STAT! England's two 99-run partnerships for the fourth wicket in this match is first time any team has had two 99-run stands for any wicket in a Test match. Before Joe Root and Tim Bresnan in second innings, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell were involved in a 99-run stand in England's first innings. The hosts now lead by 373 runs. England 140 for 4 after 68 overs with Joe Root (80*) and Ian Bell (3*)

19:12 (IST): It's been an hour into second session and Australia have found success in picking one wicket. England now lead by 364 runs with Joe Root (74*) and Ian Bell (0*) at the crease. England 131 for 4 after 65 overs.

18:57 (IST): WICKET! James Pattinson bags his first wicket in this innings as he removes Tim Bresnan to end 99-run stand. It was a short pitched delivery but Bresnan fails to keep it down and it flies straight to Chris Rogers at mid wicket. Tim Bresnan (38) c Chris Rogers b James Pattinson. The lead now swells to 362 runs and England are 129 for 4 in 62 overs.

18:18 (IST): England now lead by 350 runs as James Pattinson and Peter Siddle start proceedings post lunchEngland 117 for 3 after 53 overs. Joe Root (65*) and Tim Bresnan (33*) have added 87 runs for the fourth wicket. (Read lunch report)

17:33 (IST): LUNCH! That's the end of first session and England have shown complete dominance over the hapless Australian side. England now lead by 347 runs with Joe Root (63*) and Tim Bresnan (32*) at the crease. The partnership between the two grows to 84. Session - 31 overs and 83 runs.England 114 for 3 in 51 overs against Australia (128).

17:15 (IST): 100 up for England in their second innings and with that the hosts take lead of 336 runs with Joe Root (55*) and Tim Bresnan (29*) at the crease.(England 103/3 in 46 overs)

16:56 (IST): FIFTY! Joe Root scores his third fifty as England take 324-run lead. (England 91/3 in 41 overs, lead by 324 runs)

16:44 (IST): Partnership between Joe Root (44*) and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (20*) grows to 51 runs.(England 81/3 in 38 overs, lead by 314 runs)

16:23 (IST): England now lead by 300 runs as the partnership between Joe Root (33*) and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (17*) grows to 37 runs. (England 67/3 in 33 overs)

15:57 (IST): Australian bowlers are maintaining a tight line but not looking threatening enough. (England 50/3 in 27 overs, lead by 283)

15:50 (IST): Siddle bowls a maiden which Root safely negotiates. (England 37/3 in 25 overs, lead by 270)

 

15:40 (IST): Bresnan looking rock solid in defence as he gets perfectly behind the line of the ball. (England 36/3 in 23 overs, lead by 269)

 

15:30 (IST): Peter Siddle starts the proceedings and Joe Root flicks it away for a boundary.

 

15:25 (IST): So it's five minutes to go for the first ball to be bowled! The crowd hope to see a good day's play.

 

14:50 (IST): Reports suggest that we are in for a day of overcast conditions in London. If England win it will be their 58th vicory at Lord's.

 

14:16 (IST): The chances of this Test going into the fifth day are not much as Australia's batting performance has not been up to the mark.

 

13:58 (IST): Australia have successfully defended the Ashes from 1989 to 2005.

 

13:33 (IST): Australia's last victory at Lord's was in 2005.

 

13:17 (IST): Australia host England in the return series towards the end of this year.

 

13:04 (IST): England are currently ranked third in the ICC Test Rankings while Australia are in fourth position.

 

12:49 (IST): Tim Bresnan will look to occupy the crease as long as possible during the morning session.

 

12:31 (IST): Australia shall face the enormous task of having to win the next 3 Tests if they are to win the series should they concede a defeat in this game.

 

12:16 (IST): England's batsman will be boosted by the fact that they already have a mammoth lead. It gives them the chance to go for quick runs in the second innings on Day 3 and set Australia a big total to chase with enough time to bowl them out.

 

England's tail wagged furiously to add 72 quick runs before folding up for 361. The bowlers responded led by Graeme Swann's fifer to bundle out Australia for 128. While the hosts did lose 3 wickets towards the end of Day 2, their overall lead gives them a huge advantage to post a total beyond the reach of the Aussies. (Read Day 2 Report).