Shouting from the Hop

This is a funny game cricket. Just when you think that England are down and out, they bounce back and fight their way to a reasonable position, only to waste it at the end once more.

Chasing a world record 556 to win, with only nine wickets remaining, they batted very well to reach tea losing just one more wicket (Bell for 87). Cook went on to get his hundred (left), and he and Pieterson started to get settled for a real effort on the last day. But with under three overs to go before stumps, Cook edged to Gilchrist and Hoggard was bowled two balls later. Flintoff and Pieterson survived that late flurry, but any chance of an unlikely win, at 265-5, has now all but disappeared.

It may be possible for England to get 293 on the last day of a test, but it's not likely with just five wickets remaining.

With this game go the Ashes, so it will be doubly disappointing if a great team effort is not rewarded in any way.

The only hope is with hundreds from two of Pieterson, Flintoff, and Jones; all are capable batsmen on their day, but only KP is in any sort of form. Freddie and Jones haven't scored many on this tour, and a ton from either would be a surprise.

I'll turn on the radio tomorrow morning with trepidation, but realistically, with the pitch starting to turn sharply for Warne and Symonds, sadly I cannot see any way that England can get a win or a draw.

Mind you, when I got up this morning I expected the game to be finished, and it was far from that! Hopefully KP will be smashing the ball around and he will have someone to stay with him. If that is the situation at tea tomorrow, I may well be late for work!