Doing so will score points with Tea Party voters, ensure a steady flow of TV appearances and keep the debt counter running on Fox News to underscore the point that, yes, the national debt is very large.

FORBES: Yes, Debt Default Is Coming To America. Here's Why.

Hussey was the first to fifty, although it took him 11 balls more than his partner, and he was 62 not out in a score of 113-0 at tea.

BBC: I think my emotions have definitely settled down a bit

He and Michael Hussey took the score along to 74-2 at tea, a lead of 144, and continued to grind away until an eventful Harbhajan over 40 minutes into the final session transformed the match.

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Law, Horton, Luke Sutton and Glen Chapple all fell before lunch and tea and only VVS Laxman (53) looked like getting the big score the visitors wanted.

BBC: Lancashire hopes suffer big blow

But former Warwickshire team-mate Ntini ended any lingering hopes of a substantial score when Bell nicked a delivery which held its line to Boucher five minutes before tea.

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He went after tea and only some late hitting from Dominic Cork (46 not out) helped Lancashire push up their score.

BBC: Lancashire hopes suffer big blow