Rain curtailed the Kevin Pietersen show on day three of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. With England 4/551 and enjoying its tea the downpour that had threatened most of the afternoon made its entrance and brought play to an early close.

In the two sessions that were possible Pietersen added 128 to his overnight 85, passing personal milestones and vanquishing demons along the way. In the morning session he brought up his first Test hundred in 21 months, while shortly before tea he notched just his second double-century. In a series already notable for its epic batting performances, Pietersen has provided its most scintillating. He treated all Australian bowlers with disdain, none more so that his supposed nemesis, Xavier Doherty. The Tasmanian owes his place to England's No.4 so when Pietersen dispatched him over the long-off boundary he probably also dispatched him from the rest of the series.

Pietersen had the freedom to express himself thanks once again to the obduracy of Alastair Cook. The left-hander added just twelve to his overnight 136 though before he inside edged a lively shorter ball from Ryan Harris that Brad Haddin did well to take away to his right.

The breakthrough came with the second new ball already 11 overs old and the flagging Australian pacemen looked unlikely to create many further chances. Typifying Australia's desperation, Ricky Ponting chose to review an LBW call with Pietersen on 91. Square leg could see Pietersen was hit outside the line of off-stump but Ponting, under poor advice from bowler and wicket-keeper chose to take the decision upstairs. The UDRS proved its worth earlier in the match when Alastair Cook correctly reviewed a poor decision when on 64. Referrals like Ponting's however make a mockery of the responsibility afforded to him as captain.

New batsman Paul Collingwood looked busy for his 42 but never looked set for a big score. He was eventually undone by a Shane Watson inswinger that trapped him on his back foot when the Durham right-hander should have been playing forward.

Collingwood's dismissal perhaps benefitted England though as Ian Bell immediately looked in fine touch, playing with now customary elegance through the covers. Unbeaten on 41 at the close, Bell continues to add to his reputation.

As ineffective as Australia's attack has proven, both Doherty and Marcus North managed to make the odd delivery spit out of the footmarks. As the game teeters between a draw and an England victory, this will please only Graeme Swann, the world's premier spin bowler.

Australia has much to do before it can travel to Perth on level terms. England proved it is possible in Brisbane and, as the tourists have shown here, if Australia succeeds, the momentum of the series could shift once again in its favour.

The View From Australia

The most positive thing that can be said about Australia's Ashes series so far is that after eight days it is still not behind. Two pace bowlers have already been dumped, the X-man has underwhelmed while Marcus North must have the luck of the Qatari's if he is to appear in Perth - regardless of any second-innings exploits.

It's not Australia's tradition to feel sorry for itself though and in Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey it has two seasoned campaigners schooled in the mythology of the baggy green. Australia needs these two to stand up over the next two days and hope that their combined force of will can drag their compatriots with them.

Australia is lacking something at the moment and needs to keep its enemy at bay until it can find whatever it is again.

The View From England

Former England captain Michael Vaughan joked before the series began that Australia would provide an excellent warm-up for England's home series against number one ranked India. As it stands, such tongue-in-cheek arrogance could be well-founded. Four of England's top six have now scored centuries, two have made doubles while the only two to miss out - Bell and Collingwood - have both scored at least 42. Of the bowlers, Finn has a six-for, Anderson is the premier bowler of the series while Swann is hitting his straps.

England still needs to be mindful it converts promising situations into victories. Stats and dominance will count for nothing if Andrew Strauss does not return with the urn. Australia's 2009 Ashes should be used as a case-study.

Hero

Kevin Pietersen. Like a rock star on a stadium comeback tour Pietersen treated the Adelaide Oval to the classics. Taking guard like the Colossus of Rhodes he drove classically straight and through the off-side. He pulled savagely in front and behind square on the leg-side and treated the Athens of the South to his party trick, the wristy flick to the on side from length deliveries outside the off-stump. Pietersen plays that shot like Roger Federer's running topspin forehand - and with equal artistry and success. Pietersen's performance is all the more remarkable considering his last century in any format was 19 months ago.

The passage of play that most epitomised Pietersen's value to the game was when Peter Siddle was brought on for his first spell, backed by three men on the boundary between wide fine-leg and forward square-leg. Siddle, predictably, bowled a series of short deliveries, three of which, in succession, Pietersen smashed between the trio of boundary riders. You almost expected the strutting batsman to remove a red cape from his creams and taunt the fuming Victorian while shouting ‘ole'.

Villain

Rain (if you're English). After a few drops could be felt during the lunch interval it took until the tea break for the heavens to open. Fortunately, the astute SACA curators had the covers prepared before the worst of the rain hit. Although many Australia fans will be delighted at any disruption to England's progress it would do a disservice to a series that has and will continue to ebb and flow for inclement weather to deny a positive result.

Monday and Tuesday will bring more rain so England has a tough job forcing a result.

I'm not sure anyone else noticed but ....

If the Australian cricket team was a racehorse it would be under inspection by the stable vet any may even be put down. Simon Katich has been tenderised to lameness at short-leg, Michael Clarke stoops like the Lords weather vane, Ryan Harris has acquired an injured shoulder to accompany his injured knees, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle have only recently returned from setbacks while Shane Watson is famously poor value for medical insurers.

What's next?

Like England did in Brisbane, Australia has to bat for close to five sessions to prevent its opponent taking a 1-0 lead. The forecast showers will shorten this task although on such a flat track a splash of rain could also add an element of unpredictability that England may need to take ten Australian wickets.

Play will begin half-an-hour earlier on Monday to make up for the time lost to rain today.

TAB Sportsbet Odds

Australia $67.00, Draw $1.85, England $1.95

Close Day 3 - Snapshot

England 4/551 - Pietersen 213*, Bell 41*

Australia 245