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Day three began as day two ended. Ponting and Katich played sound, assertive cricket, and took the score to 299 before Katich was given out leg-before-wicket to the bowling of Anderson, with the second new ball.

Hussey was out cheaply (3) and then Ponting was bowled for 150, getting an inside edge off the spin bowling of Monty Panesar and dragging the ball back onto the stumps. It was an excellent innings, scored at a good rate, and took control of the game. (FWIW Ponting is the fourth highest run scorer of all time, behind Border, Lara, and Tendulkar).

The score was 4 for 331, and Australia had lost three wickets for 34 runs in ten overs and had two new batsmen at the crease. England, still leading by 100, had a chance to get right back into the match.

They didn't. Clarke and North put on a 143-run partnership, that took Australia's score past England's first innings total, with 6 wickets in hand.

After tea, there were some rain interruptions and upon resuming, Clarke was out for 83. Haddin joined North and as rain forced an early end to the day's play, Australia were 5 for 479, with Haddin on 4 and North on 54.

The laws of cricket allow for an early start or late finish tomorrow to try to make up for lost time. However, if the poor weather continues, there is a serious risk the game will end in a draw. There are two full days left, and if Australia can pile on some fast runs tomorrow, they may well be able to set England a tricky target to chase on the final day. Since Australia will have an innings in hand, it is very hard to imagine them losing from here; but stranger things have happened.

Tomorrow we can expect Australia to play aggressively. If they can post another two hundred runs they will be in a position to push for victory on day five. However, the weather in Cardiff could yet spoil the party.