England got their bowling right

The third Test is more fascinatingly poised than at any other stage of the Ashes series to date if for no other reason than, finally, Australia is under distinct and genuine pressure to save itself.

The pattern of play on day one, entering the final session, had been depressingly familiar. Down 2-0, England managed to win the toss and chose to bat first but meekly followed the script of the first two Tests by again being overwhelmed by a five-wicket haul from Glenn McGrath. The Ashes could have been effectively decided by the end of the day.

Instead, a predictable opening became something altogether different as England for the first time emphatically dominated a session and Australia suffered its first batting collapse of the series. You could attribute it to complacency, but from the way Australia began its innings it was clear that was not the case. Rather, it was due to England finally selecting the right bowling combination, breaking through the fragile top order and, with a sustained spell of quality bowling, not allowing Australia's imposing middle order to rescue them again.

At 69/3 in pursuit of England's 185, it was the type of scoreline that would have been conveniently forgotten had the Waughs proceeded to steady Australia and the Aussies went on to dominate the match. But this time the steadying partnership never arrived, as with three quality bowlers instead of two, England were able to main the pressure and Australia folded astonishingly in the face of it.

The pivotal player was Alex Tudor. The 23-year-old fast-medium bowler, playing in just his fourth Test, provided spearheads Gough and Caddick with the kind of support they lacked at Edgbaston and Lord's and it made a significant difference to the collective outlook of England's attack. With Tudor bowling, Mike Atherton was able to rest one of Gough or Caddick without having to worry about a costly release of pressure by the third seam bowler, and the benefits were shared all-round.

Tudor has the unquantifiable hallmark of a class bowler. He appears to possess the intangible quality of being a natural wicket-taker, a valuable commodity in any side, and seems the type of bowler capable of striking even when not bowling particularly well.

Deflated at being given another sub-200 total to defend, Gough and Caddick began in uninspired fashion. Realising the immense psychological and actual value of a significant opening partnership in that situation, Matthew Hayden and particularly Michael Slater were careful not to try to attempt to take more from the bowling than what they were being given.

Tudor was given the ball in place of a disappointing Caddick and started diffidently before dismissing Hayden leg-before with the score at 48. Hayden is no longer in favour with the cricket gods as it appeared a harsh call from umpire Venkat, with the ball pitching outside leg and angling away towards off as Hayden played down the wrong line.

Instead of solidifying the top order, Ricky Ponting's elevation to No. 3 has actually had the opposite effect. With Slater more inconsistent than Australia would like and Hayden still to establish himself with a sustained period of good form, Australia requires a reliable No. 3 and at present Ponting is not providing that influence.

Slater was next to depart, driving loosely at Gough away from his body and dragging the ball back onto his stumps. After playing himself in watchfully, defending full deliveries which in different circumstances he might otherwise have driven, Slater let himself down with that lapse by failing to get to the pitch of the ball.

Australia must be concerned over Ponting's form, as he is now showing the same worrying habits that have characterised previous slumps. He is again walking into drives and overbalancing while instinctively lunging towards the ball. After playing two superlative cover drives in the same Gough over, Ponting ambitiously strode forward for another drive, stumbled across the crease and edged behind to Stewart.

At that point the match was finely poised, ready to be seized by whoever showed the initiative. This time, it was England. Despite again being deceived into bowling short to Steve Waugh, which must have had England fans seething with frustration, Caddick managed to pitch the ball at least a little fuller to account for the Australian captain. It was more Waugh's mistake than an exceptional delivery from Caddick, as Waugh attempted to drive a short of a length ball forcefully off the back foot, but it was enough to take the edge to Atherton at slip and leave Australia languishing at 82/4.

If England believed they were back in the game after dismissing Steve Waugh, they were convinced of it when Tudor captured the wicket of his twin brother for 15 to make it 94/5. Tudor pitched the ball on the ideal line and length outside off, crucially angling it away to have Waugh feeling for the ball away from his body with a diagonal bat for the edge to Atherton, by then one happy captain, at slip.

With vociferous support from the small but capacity crowd unlike anything heard in the series to date, it did not stop there. Caddick rode the momentum to strike again, producing a superb full-length ball to Martyn that squared him up and took a thin defensive edge through to Stewart.

In the same over, Shane Warne came and went for another career duck, struck on the toe in front of the stumps to make it a surreal 102/7. Only bad light halted the procession at 105/7 after 33.3 overs, with Australia still 80 runs behind after the kind of landslide one-session collapse that has heralded their rare defeats in recent years. Crucially for the tourists, Adam Gilchrist is still there and charged with conjuring another explosive innings.

Australia has often been tested severely, but usually answers the challenge before the situation reaches such a dire point. Now, the world champions are forced to come from behind if they are to secure the Ashes in this Test, a tantalising prospect.

With 17 wickets having fallen on the first day, we are set for another three-day Test. Only this time, perhaps, with a different result.