England vs. Australia, 2nd Ashes Test: Day 3 Takeaways

Australia tightened their grip on the second Ashes Test against England at Lord's, London, on Saturday following a disciplined display with the ball.

England were dismissed for 312 leaving them 254 behind on first innings. By the close, David Warner and Chris Rogers had stretched that lead to 362.

The Australian bowlers didn't produce the fireworks of Friday night but steadily worked their way through the England lineup.

Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes both made useful contributions for the hosts but couldn't produce a match-defining innings.

The stage is set for an early charge from the Australian top order tomorrow morning with a declaration likely around lunchtime.

Here are the key takeaways from Saturday's play.

Shane Who? Mitchell Marsh Justifies Selection

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

He may have only scored 12 out of Australia's mammoth total of 566 but Mitchell Marsh justified the faith of the selectors when given the ball.

Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes were largely untroubled for much of the morning session. Thrown the cherry 15 minutes before the lunch interval, Marsh enticed Stokes to chase a slightly wide one that he dragged on to his stumps.

The England all-rounder had looked in fine touch, and the breakthrough was reward for Australia's solid morning effort.

Of course, the big wicket for the visitors was Alastair Cook. The skipper was the one man capable of getting England past the follow-on and beyond. That he didn't was down to Marsh, who dismissed him in identical fashion to Stokes.

Figures of eight over, three maidens, two for 23 was an impressive haul for the 23-year-old Marsh.

"

WATCH: Despair for Cook & England, delight for Australia. The captain goes just four short of 100 #MyAshesSummer https://t.co/0s0s6dpcO5

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2015"

Perseverance Pays for Aussie attack

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The slow Lord's pitch was no livelier on Saturday than it had been on the first two days. Discipline was the order of the day for the Australian attack, and they showed it in abundance.

Even when Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes were putting on a partnership of 145 for the fourth wicket they never lost control.

The quicks were rewarded for that perseverance, steadily chipping away to stop any chance of England avoiding the follow-on.

Whenever the hosts did look like getting a foothold in the game, the Australians found a breakthrough.

Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh were rewarded for bowling full and straight. More of the same hard graft will be required in England's second innings.

"

Yep, that's out... #Ashes pic.twitter.com/WstL3hMPjT

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 18, 2015"

Captain Cook Leads From the Front

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Alastair Cook looks a different player to the one who struggled so badly for much of last year. The England captain fell tantalisingly short of three figures at Lord's but his form augurs well for the rest of the series.

Knowing the location of off stump is crucial to any opening batsman. Cook seems to have a pretty good grasp of where his is at the moment.

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Cook's left plenty alone outside off-stump in this innings: http://t.co/YqEbhxN4SZ #MyAshesSummer pic.twitter.com/idGmPc8fV0

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2015"

It's unlikely that England will survive this match with a draw. Cook's form is one of the few positives the host's can take from what has been a disappointing overall performance.

Technology Works—Buttler Walks

It didn't really matter in the overall scheme of things, but one of the talking points on Day 3 was Peter Nevill's “catch” of Jos Buttler.

What looked at first glance like a sensational pouch was scratched from the scorebook following the intervention of third umpire Chris Gaffaney.

Clean catches are often overturned due to the foreshortening of images, but in this case, the evidence was pretty clear cut.

The Australians didn't look particularly happy with the decision, but the commentary-box consensus was that it was the right one.

"

So close... What an effort from Nevill all the same #Ashes pic.twitter.com/GC0LSwq2Xc

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 18, 2015"

The job of the umpires would be much easier if players took more responsibility themselves. Buttler did just that soon after. Was it naive? Or is it just playing fair?

Whatever, England's wicketkeeper walked after feathering a catch to Nevill from the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

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WICKET! Buttler tickles through to Nevill & walks! Eng 210-6 http://t.co/NOPbTPZYH6 #MyAshesSummer pic.twitter.com/GOVHrdpX0E

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2015"

The game would be much simpler for the men in white coats if more players followed Buttler's lead.