Shouting from the Hop

Blown away. Adam Gilchrist smashed England's bowlers (all of them) to all parts once he had passed his fifty, and recorded the second fastest test century ever at the WACA earlier today, and took any grip England may have had on the Ashes back down under. It was an awesome performance - 57 balls for his ton was just one ball short of the record held by Sir Vivian Richards, who set the record in 1986. Gilly did have a chance to break it, but Hoggard bowled wide when he needed 5 runs from three balls and the chance slipped away from the wicket-keeper batsmen. His innings overshadowed those of Hussey and Clarke who also scored hundreds to put Australia well in charge on the third day of this third test match.

The Anglo euphoria of day one was well in the past by then - England's own first innings a mere memory after being bowled out for 215, 29 runs short of the Aussie first innings total.

Monty Panesar continued to show why he should have been playing all series, taking another three second innings wickets. His bowling has been a breath of fresh air, and he has troubled all the batsmen, even though he has been hit for some big sixes (and three by Gilchrist today). Eight wickets in the match is a huge improvement on anything Ashley Giles has produced, and the news that Giles has had to fly home for personal reasons really isn't too much of a loss for England, however sad it may be for Gilo and his family.

Apart from that, some decent bowling went unrewarded, and the Aussie pressure machine just goes on and on.

Chances came, and went - Jones making a great effort to catch Hussey (left), although he would have been better off leaving the chance to Pieterson who could possibly have pouched it more comfortably.

The Aussie first innings lead of 29 went up and up, and way past anything any team has ever got in the last innings of a test match.

Once Gilchrist reached three figures, the inevitable declaration came, and that left England with 26 minutes to bat. It was to prove to much for Strauss, who padded up to Lee's fourth ball, and was given out unluckily for the second time in the match by unpire Koertzen. Bell and Cook survived till the close, but not without the odd close call.

There really doesn't seem any way back for England in this match, or now the series. I guess it depends on whether England can survive the fourth day - South Africa batted 135 overs in the fourth innings at Perth last year to gain a draw - but the likelihood is they cannot. It would take a superhuman effort from Cook Bell, Pieterson, Collingwood, and Flintoff, to get anywhere near to winning this game, which would re-write the record books if they did.

I suspect that the game may well be finished by the time I wake up in the morning! And with the loss, will be Aussie celebration that the Ashes are back down under after a brief sojourn in English hands.

Four years ago the series was over after the Perth test, and I suspect it is now just a matter of time before this series is also concluded; The Ashes may be lost, but two matches are still to be played - can England find the winning formula? Do they have the heart? I'm not sure.

I go the result wrong in Adelaide on the penultimate day, when I thought that a draw was almost sure; I now think this game is as good as over, but only one team can prove me wrong.