292 runs to win with 5 wickets in hand or bat three sessions to draw with 5 wickets in hand. Whatever way you look at it, it’s a tough ask of any team let alone an England team low on confidence.

I haven’t seen any of the coverage from the 4th day as yet. The highlights aren’t on until 5pm so I’ll sit down and watch them then but it sounds as if England had a good day with the bat and things could have been oh so different if Old Man McGrath hadn’t picked up a couple of quick wickets before stumps.

Despite me writing him off a couple of days ago, Alastair Cook hit his maiden Ashes century as he and Ian Bell put on 170 for the second wicket but it’s the late dismissals of Cook and Hoggard which make me think we’re just not going to make it and the little urn will be in Australian hands before the day is out. I desperately hope that I’m wrong and Freddie Flintoff can step up to the plate and remind us why we all wanted to have his babies 15 months ago by putting the Aussies to the sword and blatting the runs required for an historic victory but I just don’t see it happening. One wicket is realistically all the stands between the ex convicts and the Ashes.

Obviously I haven’t mentioned that innings yet. I really didn’t feel in the mood yesterday. However Gilchrists innings was breath taking to watch on the Sky highlights in the evening even though I knew what was going to happen. The wry smile by Monty after he had been hit for 24 in one over was priceless.

Anyway the upshot of all this is that I’m going to find myself sitting in front of the TV at 2.30am with a large jug of coffee watching history be made. It’ll either be the biggest total in Test match history successfully chased down or it’ll be the shortest ever reign of an Ashes team.

Tags : Cricket, The Ashes, England, Australia, Third Test