Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin were involved in a record triple-century stand on the third day of the Gabba Test match that effectively shut the English out of the match.

Australia garnered a lead of 221 runs over England after it had looked on Friday they wouldn’t get close to the opposition’s total at one stage. Hussey scored a career-best of 195, unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved double century, while Haddin made 136 to get the Aussies up to 481. They were 143/5 when the pair had got together in the second session on the second day.

What the lead of 221 effectively does is to reduce the chances of an English win to almost negligible (20/1 at BetFred). Australia, on the other hand now will need to ensure that there are no repeats of what happened at Cardiff in the first Ashes Test match last year. England were down by 239 runs at the end of the fourth day’s play and ended on 20/2 before fighting hard to bat the whole day out and draw the game. Paul Collingwood had been the star of that show.

Australia has many more overs to bowl but the first session will continue to be crucial. The ball hasn’t swung around too much but if the side can get a wicket or two early, then it will put a lot of pressure on the rest of the batsmen coming in. Fortunately for England, both openers, Alastair Cook and Andrew Cook are still at the crease. Kevin Pietersen’s remains a crucial wicket but one gets the sense that it will be the doughty Jonathon Trott who will hold the key to batting out time for England.

Australia are favourites to win it now, with an offer of 2/5 (SportingBet) though, they will need some more help from Xavier Doherty to get the better of the Aussies. A draw is at 11/4 (Blue Square)