Pietersen double-ton adds to Australia's pain

Australia v England, 2nd Test, Adelaide, 3rd day

Kevin Pietersen's second Test double-century pushed England's lead to enormous proportions at the Adelaide Oval, where they went to tea on the third day 306 runs in front with six wickets in hand. By the break, England were all but toying with Australia, leaving them in the field on another hot day, knowing that seven sessions remain and Australia's best hope is to bat out time for a draw.

Kevin Pietersen was in fine form on the third day

A declaration will almost certainly come soon after tea, with a few spits of rain and gloomy conditions being added to Andrew Strauss's calculations on how long his bowlers will need to dismiss Australia a second time. Pietersen might be given a chance to better his top score of 226, having gone to the break unbeaten on 213 with Ian Bell on 41, as England cruised to 4 for 551.

Australia managed only one wicket in each session on the third day, as the pitch remained true and the bowlers flagged. Alastair Cook's long and patient innings finally came to an end this morning when he was caught behind for 148 and Paul Collingwood was lbw after lunch for 42, which was almost a failure given the large numbers registered by his colleagues.

Cook's two centuries have defined the opening stages of this Ashes series, but Pietersen's dramatic return to form could become a key factor for the rest of the series. He entered this match having not scored a Test century since the tour of the West Indies in March 2009, which was almost impossible for Australian fans to believe given the vintage touch he displayed in this innings.

Pietersen was forceful through the off side, driving hard and finding gaps, and regularly walked at the fast men to thump deliveries through midwicket with disdain. His so-called weakness against left-arm spin didn't help Xavier Doherty, who struggled for impact and had 0 for 120 at tea, which will increase the chances of Nathan Hauritz returning for the Perth Test.

Not that any attack anywhere in the world would have enjoyed bowling to Pietersen in this mood. His century, which came with a clip off his hips from his 158th delivery, brought a screeching roar from Pietersen that would have fitted into a horror movie, which was pretty much how the Australians were viewing the Test.

Adelaide spectators would remember his 158 at the venue four years ago, but that came in a devastating loss for England. This time they cannot possibly suffer defeat, and Pietersen cruised to his double-century with the calm assurance of a man in complete control of the situation. His double-hundred came from his 283rd delivery, with a hurried single pushed to mid-off, testing the hamstring that had twinged earlier in his innings.

There was no run-out chance, though, and in truth, Australia created hardly any opportunities throughout the day. Their first moment of joy came when Cook feathered a thin inside edge off Ryan Harris to Brad Haddin, who hurled himself to his right to take an athletic catch. Cook's dismissal left him on 450 runs from his three innings so far this series, more than any Australian batsman managed throughout the entire 2009 Ashes campaign.

It was a well-deserved wicket for Harris, who was easily the best of Australia's bowlers, although he didn't have much competition in an attack that struggled for impact. Shane Watson picked up Collingwood, lbw to a fullish ball that nipped in and struck him in line with off stump, but as the opening batsman, he cannot be expected to carry too much of a bowling load.

At some point this afternoon, Watson will walk out to bat, with salvaging a draw the only goal, and it remains to be seen if his usual partner Simon Katich will accompany him. Katich left the field during the second session with what was reported to be a heel problem, after he hobbled around the field in obvious discomfort for much of the day. He wasn't the only one feeling the pain.