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| Australia's Adam Gilchrist shows a straight bat on the way to his 152 this afternoon at Edgbaston. |
Adam Gilchrist hit a gloriously uninhibited 152 and Damien Martyn stroked his maiden test century as Australia tightened their stranglehold on the first Ashes test during a rain-interrupted third day today.
Australia extended their overnight 332 for four to 576 all out midway through the final session, with Martyn's 105 and Gilchrist's highest test score coming on their first appearance against England as they shared a sixth wicket partnership of 160.
Having bowled out England for 294 on the opening day, that gave the touring team a first-innings lead of 282 with just over two days remaining, and they soon plunged the home country into trouble when they batted a second time.
Immediately after a 25-minute interruption for bad light, Glenn McGrath had Michael Atherton edging to Mark Waugh at second slip - the 14th time in 26 test innings he has dismissed the former England skipper. This time he went for four.
England were 48 for one when worsening light forced an early close at Edgbaston, with Marcus Trescothick having made an unbeaten 21 and Mark Butcher 15 not out.