Broad hurt as Australia forge 257-run Perth lead
By Nick Mulvenney PERTH (Reuters) - Opener David Warner punished a depleted England attack with a quickfire 81 to help Australia to 123 without loss and a lead of 257 runs at tea on the third day of the third Ashes test on Sunday. England's hopes of keeping the series alive by avoiding defeat at the WACA had already all but melted away in the fierce morning heat when they were dismissed for 251 to bring up lunch. To add injury to insult for the tourists, their best bowler, Stuart Broad, was unable to take to the field after the break and taken to hospital for scans on an injured foot. Warner's opening partner Chris Rogers was unbeaten on 42 and Australia looked well on their way to a victory which would secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. England had their chances for a breakthrough but wicketkeeper Matt Prior missed a stumping opportunity when Warner was on 13 and captain Alastair Cook failed to get hold of a slip catch to let off Rogers on 26. The 27-year-old Warner in particular took advantage of his reprieve and brought up his 10th test half century off 56 balls with one of 13 fours in his innings, to which he added one slogged six. The tourists had resumed on a sweltering morning on 180 for four chasing Australia's first innings 385 but lost their last six wickets for the addition of 71 runs. Ian Bell clipped four runs off his pads in the first over of the day to save the follow-on but that was pretty much all that went right for England as Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle got swing and bounce off the WACA wicket. The cracks opening up in the sunbaked track did not help England's cause but it was aggressive, disciplined bowling from the Australians that again did the damage. Bell departed leg before for 15 from the third ball of the third over and his overnight partner Ben Stokes, caught behind, followed for 18 soon afterwards to give Johnson his first victim in more than 40 overs. Prior (8) was also caught behind to give Siddle his second wicket and Stuart Broad (5) lasted 23 minutes before he was dismissed lbw by Johnson (2-62) with a full delivery that smacked into his boot. That dismissal appeared to take on an extra dimension after lunch when Broad failed to come out to field and was sent off to a local hospital to have an X-ray. Harris (3-48) had Tim Bresnan caught behind for 21 to take the first wicket with the new ball and Siddle finished with 3-36 after James Anderson (two) spooned his delivery to George Bailey at short leg to bring an end to the innings.
