Australia’s cricket writers on Saturday finally had something to cheer as Michael Clarke’s tourists turned the screws in the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
Paceman Peter Siddle took two wickets shortly before stumps on the second day to cement a strong Australia position built by captain Clarke’s 187.
At Friday’s close Ashes-holders England were 52 for two in reply to Australia’s first innings 527 for seven declared, a deficit of 475 runs in a match the tourists - 2-0 down with three to play - had to win to stand any chance of regaining the urn.
Coming after the humiliation of Australia’s 347-run defeat in the second Lord’s Test, the country’s newspapers took heart as the Baggy Greens had England on the back foot.
“Suddenly England is rediscovering how jittery Ashes cricket can be after Australia turned the screws on the second day of the Old Trafford Test,” The Australian’s Wayne Smith said.
“At no stage in the series so far has England been placed under sustained pressure from Michael Clarke’s side but they were today and they didn’t handle it with any aplomb at all.”
Fairfax Media’s Chris Barrett said England’s “bellyaching laughter” was on hold for the time being.