England breathed a sigh of relief as the rains came to Cardiff on day three of the first Ashes test and spared the blushing bowlers any more punishment from their Australian tormentors.

Increasingly it’s looking like the only way England will be able to salvage any kind of result from this match is if further rains halt the Australian charge.

Nevermind a total of 600, Australia conceivably look as if they could bat forever on this pitch against England’s anaemic attack, and that’s no understatement given the Australia closed a truncated day’s play on 479 for five.

It will be difficult to determine whether England’s bowlers have failed their captain or if England’s batsmen were profligate in their first innings until they are asked to bat again, which they will surely be by tea time tomorrow, further rain withstanding.

Once again Australia showed England how easy batting on this pitch can be and how building partnerships achieves more than the thrash and bash, high octane effort the Three Lions showed on day one.

Despite the loss of Katich (122), Ponting (150) and the out-of-form Hussey (3) just before lunch, when James Anderson took two wickets in 14 balls as he finally got the ball to swing, Michael Clarke and Marcus North built a stand of 143.

The partnership was a carbon copy of Katich and Ponting’s on day two, going almost chanceless, as the pair refused to be drawn into any rash shots against England’s much vaunted attack, which will leave captain Andrew Strauss vexed.

There aren’t many positives left for the Barmy Army to cling to. The spin bowling looks one paced to the point where Collingwood’s dibbly-dobblers were preferred to Swann’s off-spin and the winning of the toss is now arbitrary as England could end up batting last on a questionably deteriorating pitch.

Rain is scheduled on Saturday but serious questions will need to be asked about whether England’s bowling attack can take 20 wickets to win a test match when they’re struggling to take 10 in one innings.

Australia march on, revelling in England’s plight, and looking every bit the world’s number one Test side. When they’re asked to bat again England will have spent the best part of three days in the field. Will they have the resolve to save this test match?

PHOTO: Australia’s Michael Clarke (back L) hits a four that has England’s Alastair Cook taking evasive action as Matt Prior (R) looks on during their first Ashes test cricket match at Cardiff, Wales July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown