Tim Bresnan was a thorn in Australia's side early on day three at Lord's. Source: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
A BABY-FACED assassin and a gritty night watchman have combined to grind Australia into the Lord's turf on day three.
Joe Root and Tim Bresnan denied the tourists for the entire morning session, snuffing out any hopes Australia had of pulling off an Ashes miracle.
At lunch England is 3-114, already holding a commanding 347-run lead which looks like growing further as the afternoon wears on.
Root notched his maiden Ashes half-century to move to 63, while Bresnan is unbeaten on 32, producing the stonewalling mission he was sent in for last night after Peter Siddle had rocked the home side by taking 3-4 in a brilliant burst.
The pair have added 84 for the fourth wicket, steading the ship from 3-30. It is the second time in the match the hosts have recovered from losing three early wickets.
And first innings centurymaker Ian Bell is still in the sheds.
Both Root and Bresnan were untroubled this morning with the drama of yesterday, where 16 wickets fell, looking like a distant memory.
Australia's attack looks deflated, failing to snare the early wickets it desperately needed to keep its remote chances alive.
The quicks have been tight without being threatening, while spinner Ashton Agar has not caused too many concerns.
Root has looked in sparkling touch, mixing a couple of majestic straight drives with powerful punches off the back foot through the off side.
He set the tone on the first ball of the day, whipping Siddle through midwicket for a boundary before bringing up his 50 off 122 balls.
The 22-year-old will hone in on his second century this afternoon in just his eighth Test.
Australia will be ruing the missed opportunity from Root last night, where the opener edged Shane Watson between keeper and Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke at first slip, who looked at each other as the ball sailed to the fence.
The only chance Australia had of giving itself any chance of staying in the contest was to run through the home side this morning, with the the highest successful run chase at Lords 1-344 by the mighty West Indies back in 1984.
It took Bresnan 30 balls to get off the mark - with an unconvincing hook to fine leg - but from there the runs flowed more freely.
The only half chance of the morning came when Siddle found the edge of Bresnan's bat, but it dropped just short of Phil Hughes at third slip before racing to the fence.
He then pounced on a half-volley next ball as the hosts slowly started to sap the life out of tiring Australia.
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