Brotherly love

Having just become the youngest Englishman to score an Ashes century at Lord's, Joe Root was able to celebrate on the pitch with his 20-year-old brother. Billy Root, who is currently playing for MCC Young Cricketers and is acting as one of England 12th men in this game, ran on to the pitch to bring his older brother a drink and the two exchanged a hug and a few words before the Joe extended his own innings and Australia's misery.

Resuming on the third morning after coming in as Ian Bell's nightwatchman the previous night, Tim Bresnan denied his usual attacking tendencies to play an important role in wearing down Australia's bowlers when still fresh. In a pointed lesson in application for the tourists, he waited until his 30th ball to get off a duck, a mistimed pull shot at James Pattinson reaping a single. From there Bresnan continued to play patiently, soaking up plenty of Australia's best bowling of the day in the company of Root and surviving beyond lunch. By the time he was eventually dismissed, the way had been well and truly smoothed for Bell.

This was not a day filled with joy for Australia. Any lingering hopes they had of clawing their way back into a match-winning position were slowly suffocated as Root and Bresnan extended their overnight partnership to 99 and the lead to 362. But Australia's seamers remained admirably disciplined and continued to make England work for every run. The post-lunch spell from Pattinson - he bowled seven overs, three of them maidens and conceded only five runs - and Peter Siddle was particularly impressive with Pattinson eventually rewarded with the wicket of Bresnan, hurried into a pull shot and caught at midwicket. It was a fine effort from a bowling unit who have spent several days in the field of late and are winning little support from their batting colleagues. Pattinson, who struggled with the slope in the first innings, was especially impressive.

If England had any concerns about their batting going into this game, they perhaps concerned Root's position at the top of the order and Jonny Bairstow's in the middle-order. While Bairstow eased those concerns with his half-century in the first innings, Root cemented his place as England opening batsman on the second. When he reached 70 he became the first man to reach 1,000 first-class runs in the 2013 English domestic season. This is just his seventh first-class match of the season.

England's lead was already up to 389 when, from nowhere, a good length delivery from Siddle reared to hit Bell on the top hand. With more than seven sessions to play and England's lead reaching impregnable proportions, uneven bounce from the pitch was the last thing Australia wanted to see.