England will go into day four of the second Ashes test in complete control having closed day three on 311 for 6, giving them a massive 521 lead over Australia, who will be asked to chase down a record total to avoid defeat.

Despite bowling out Australia an hour into the morning session, 11 runs short of avoiding the follow-on total of 225, England captain Andrew Strauss decided against asking the tourists to bat again after seeing Australia’s tail-enders play with purpose and in some comfort in clement overhead conditions on what is still a favourable batting surface.

Strauss’s decision appeared vindicated as he and opening partner Alistair Cook added 50 in just 11 overs before breaking for lunch.

But the afternoon session saw a refocused Australia begin to fight back as off-spinner Nathan Hauritz showed his class as a bowler and a man as wheeled away with a dislocated finger and further confounded his critics by dismissing first Cook and then Strauss with some beautifully flighted deliveries.

England suddenly looked vulnerable at 74 for 2 and it could have been worse had Australia captain Ricky Ponting not fluffed his lines twice.

Firstly he failed to run out Kevin Pietersen who was stranded halfway down the pitch by missing all three stumps when throwing from the slip cordon, then he shelled a dolly of a slip catch off a Ravi Bopara edge.

The eventual dismissal of both Bopara, who struggled again for his 27, and the clearly unfit Pietersen for 44, proved to be a blessing in disguise for England.

The arrival of Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior at the crease saw the wilting England charge re-ignited as Prior added 61 off just 42 balls in a brutal assault on the Australian bowling before falling to a superb run out by Marcus North.

Collingwood scored 54 to continue his excellent form in the series before edging behind to Brad Haddin, leaving Flintoff, in his final test innings at Lord’s, unbeaten on 30 and Australia on their knees as rain ended the day’s proceedings.

Australia bowled awfully again with the exception of Hauritz and the form of Mitchell Johnson must now be a real worry for Ricky Ponting. But will they bat as badly again in their second innings?

Strauss holds all the aces and will make a decision on when to declare tomorrow morning, no doubt weighing up the pitch conditions and the weather against the benevolence of the pitch and the number of overs he thinks his bowlers will need to take 10 Australian wickets.

I would bat for about 5 overs in the morning and let the Australian’s chase the ball around the Lord’s outfield, further demoralising the team, leaving England 180 overs to bowl the tourists out for a second time

The highest score ever chased down in the second innings of a test match is 414, while the highest ever total in a first class match to be chased at Lord’s is 507, so it would look as if Strauss’s men have plenty of runs on the board.

A note of caution. In test matches against Sri Lanka in 2006 and South Africa in 2007, the touring sides both managed to bat for three days to save the respective test matches as England failed to 10 wickets a second time round as the Lord’s pitch flattened out, which will play on Andrew Strauss’ mind.

There will be a result in this match, providing rain doesn’t interfere, so, will Australia be able to chase down over 500 runs, a world record to win, or have England got enough runs and the dexterity to take a further 10 wickets?

PHOTO: Australia’s Nathan Hauritz claims a catch from the bat of England’s Ravi Bopara which was referred to the third umpire and ruled not out during the second Ashes test cricket match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London July 18, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown