Summary Much depends on Pietersen (33) and Ian Bell (4) to rescue England at day three of 3rd Ashes test.
MANCHESTER (AP) - England lost Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott before lunch to plunge into deeper trouble on day three of the third Ashes test against Australia, leaving the team rocking on 119-4 and still 209 runs off the follow-on mark.
Much now hinges on the partnership of Kevin Pietersen (33) and Ian Bell (4) to pull England up toward Australia s mammoth first-innings score of 527-7 declared, but the tourists were in full control of a match they need to win to stay alive in the series.
Trott departed for 5 when he edged Ryan Harris to Michael Clarke at second slip and Cook s surrender for 62 was also tame, clipping Mitchell Starc down the leg side for wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to take a stunning, one-handed catch.
England is 2-0 ahead in the five-test series.
Michael Clarke dragged Australia back into the Ashes series by hitting his 24th test century against a lackluster England on Thursday, taking the spotlight away from more umpiring controversy on the opening day of the third test.
The captain became the first Australian to make three figures this series as he reached stumps on 125 not out, with the tourists in command on 303-3 as they look for a victory to stay alive in the Ashes.
On a hot and humid day at Old Trafford, Australia s batsmen finally found some form on a good wicket with opener Chris Rogers hitting a test-best 84 and Steve Smith adding 70 in an unbeaten 174-run stand for the fourth wicket with Clarke.
"As a batting side, we have been under a lot of pressure and copped a lot of criticism," Rogers said. "Today the pressure was off us a bit and we could play with a bit of freedom and things worked out much better for us."
The steady flow of runs helped Australia overcome the dubious dismissal of Usman Khawaja, who was given out caught behind off Graeme Swann for one, despite replay technology showing the batsman hadn t touched the ball.
Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena upheld the on-field umpire s decision to the amazement of most in the ground as well as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who tweeted: "That was one of the worst cricket umpiring decisions I have ever seen."
Australia announced at the end of play that it was seeking an explanation from the ICC about how the umpires reached the call, because "in our view, the on-field decision and referred decision using DRS were both incorrect."
"He said he didn t hit it and I said he didn t hit it," said Rogers, who was out in the middle with Khawaja when the decision was made.
Swann found some turn at a ground widely seen as a spinner s paradise.
Shane Warne produced the so-called "Ball of the Century" here 20 years ago to grab two wickets but England s pace attack toiled and struggled with their footing. Stuart Broad limped off for six overs midway through the final session.
"We stuck to our task and it could have gone a couple of different ways today," England bowler Tim Bresnan said. "With the chances we made it could have been six down. Hopefully we ll get the rewards tomorrow."
England is 2-0 ahead in the five-match series and needs a draw or victory to keep hold of the urn.
That might not be so straightforward on this evidence, and is on the back foot for the first time this series.
Clarke has been the captain of a sinking ship this summer and his own form has dipped as a result, making just 102 runs in his four previous innings this series.
As Australia s one world-class batsman, the team depends heavily on Clarke and he delivered under huge pressure. After reaching his hundred with a scampered single, he held his bat aloft, wiped the sweat off his brow and then kissed the badge on his helmet.
