Shouting from the Hop

It was never going to be easy for England to bowl out Australia on this Adelaide flat-track, especially without Panesar, and so it proved.

Michael Clark made a hundred, and received solid support from Gilchrist and Warne, as Australia fell just 38 runs short of England's first innings total.

Matthew Hoggard was the star with the ball for the tourists, taking 7 wickets for 109 runs (check that against Brett Lee's first innings figures...!). It just goes to show that line and length can play a part when pace does not (Stuart Clark's figures confirm).

England were left with nineteen overs to face before the close, and now had little chance of winning the match (barring a miracle), but they could still lose it! They therefore had to, and did, bat well at the start of their second innings finishing at 59-1; Cook out in a repeat of his first innings dismissal.

The last day scenario is of a tense morning session, as Australia have little to lose by applying great pressure. England should survive, but we have said that before and seen the collapse out of nothing before our eyes. It will be interesting to see how far in front Flintoff wants to be before declaring - he will fancy getting a few more overs out of Harmison before heading to the WACA, but needs to ensure that they are far enough in front to ensure that even if his bowlers got hit for ten an over they just cannot lose.

This test has been called the true start to the Ashes series, implying that Brisbane did not count. Sadly, it did, and Australia will head to Perth one up with three to play.

Perth is one of my favourite Aussie cities, but where I have seen England falter most - losing on every occasion I have witnessed them take on Australia in a test. Hopefully, this side have packed their bags and their guts, and will be willing to fight it out on a faster pitch than Adelaide.