This is the 21st part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

With poor weather delaying the start of the third day, Hayden & Langer continue their purposeful start to Australia’s first innings, the latter reaching 80. Hayden then takes charge of the partnership for a bit, targeting Hoggard for several key boundaries. In the eighth over of the morning the rain returns, prompting another brief delay. When play resumes, Hayden collects his 50, continuing to collect boundaries and take Australia to 150. Langer gets to 91, managing only 16 runs in the session; it is a higher number, however, than the number of overs played (14) as Australia are 157/0 at lunch.

Afternoon

The batsmen open the second session with consistent singles and doubles, with Giles and Harmison still unable to remove either one. Langer brings up a century, his first of the summer, with a boundary to third man off Harmison. Two balls later, another boundary takes the veteran to 7000 career Test runs. But after several wide and no-ball deliveries, Harmison strikes in that same over, finding the edge of Langer’s bat which deflects the ball onto the stumps. It’s an important 105 for the opener, and the wicket comes almost right as the rain returns to south London, this time severe enough that puddles are forming on the covers. The two umpires take the tea break there and then, with Australia 185/1.

Evening

After deferring to Langer for the majority of the first-wicket partnership, Hayden takes charge in his quest for a much-needed century. Ponting gets a break when he appears to edge to Bell, but Billy Bowden doesn’t see the contact and doesn’t give the captain out. Hayden reaches 90, and has now scored 1000 runs in Ashes Test matches. The opener finally gets the coveted 100 with a boundary to end a Flintoff over, and the bowler sportingly congratulates the batsman. The very next over, Giles nearly completes all six deliveries before another rain delay; that’s the third one of the day since play began, and that’s not counting the wave that pushed back the start of the day. This break goes quickly, however, and Australia bring up the 250, still only one wicket down. The crowd has largely stayed put at the Oval even with the stoppages, not wanting to miss out on any critical moment. Ponting reaches 35 before Flintoff baits him into directing a shot to Strauss for the second wicket. Martyn provides run support for Hayden, and the two remain not out in the 79th over when the umpires offer them the light, which they take, effectively ending the third day’s play.

After Day 3, Australia are 277/2 in the first innings. England lead by 96 runs.