2nd Test : Day Four - All results now possible

Optimism is the opium of the people.
Milan Kundera, The Joke

England: 1st innings - 425 & 2nd innings - 311-6 dec; Australia: 1st innings - 215 & 2nd innings - 313-5 (day four, stumps)

Hindsight is a fine thing. If only I had known what was to unfold this afternoon, I wouldn't have awoken this morning scenting victory in a single day. Cricket can be the cruellest of sports. I now type this fearing defeat. The prospect of losing this test was unprecedented at the start of play today but England never fail to surprise and, from a position of great promise, we now face humiliation. On the eve on the fifth day, I am all aquiver.

MORNING SESSION : HIS FREDNESS ON FIRE

We anticipated a rain affected day in our pursuit of the ten wickets that would bring glory and, sure enough, the start of play was delayed until 11.15am. This meant that Strauss declared immediately. We had 190 overs to remove the Aussies and patience was paramount but early inroads were vital too. Anderson and Fred opening the bowling aggressively and, after just a quarter of an hour, the Flinstone made the breakthrough removing the Kat for just six. Replays showed that the big man had overstepped and that the delivery was a no-ball but c'est la vie. They say you make your own luck in sport and it's truism that decisions go in your favour when you are playing well. Our opening pair were penetrative and on the prowl. Punter, our favourite pantomime villain, was now at the crease and looking to make amends for his fielding faux-pas; he was determinedly watchful and paternal towards his young partner, The Prodigy. At noon, high drama ensued as another controversial dismissal was on the cards. Hughes edged to slip off Friedrich and Strauss claimed the catch but Ponting told his partner to stay at the crease. Rudi chose not to refer the decision to the third umpire and, having checked with the square leg umpire and confirmed with Strauss that the ball had carried, gave the decision. Hughes was on the way back to the hutch. We were 34-2 and rampant. The hostility of Fred's opening spell of 5 overs 2 maidens 2 wickets for 4 runs had been exquisite and he was withdrawn from the attack to rapturous applause. Fellow seamers Broad and Onions came to the fore and tested a fuming Punter and his Hussler with some searing deliveries of their own. The pair advanced not without toil and reached lunch on 76-2.

AFTERNOON SESSION : HISTORY IN THE MAKING

The afternoon session got underway on time - the Elements, as well as the umpires, were on our side - and we claimed the prized wicket of the Aussie skipper within minutes. Broad had taken a key scalp at last and the Baggy Green were quaking on 78-3. "This could be all over by five", I proclaimed. The ball was beginning to reverse swing and our quicks looked like they wanted to wrap this up in hours rather than sessions. Brocket was proactive too, choosing to introduce spin as the seamers begun to tire. Marcel delivered in his opening spell removing Cricket Tragic for 27 runs. The Aussies position was pretty tragic - 120-4 with countless overs still to play and a man arriving at the crease on a pair. North avoided that particular ignominy but he didn't last long. Dr Comfort's confidence had returned and he removed Marcus for four with a quicker delivery just before 15.00. It was down to Clarke and Haddin, the Aussies last two recognised batsmen, to restore some sort of order and get through to tea unscathed. But England were closing in on victory and Freddie was still firing. The Pup and Gilchrist II rode out his spell and Clarke reached a quick-fire counterattacking 50. The vice-captain was relishing the responsibility of the ultimate rescue mission. Had, at the other end, was playing positively. He knows no other way. Just before the break, they recorded a 50 partnership. We had been held off but the Aussies were still on death row.

EVENING SESSION : ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

The less said about the elongated evening session the better. There were 49 possible overs to play, in mathematical terms, over half of the day remained, but we secured no further wickets. The Pup made his first century in England and Had raced away to 50+. Beefy acknowledged that "all had gone a little quiet" at 16.20 but we were unable to arrest the slide. As the partnership flowed on and on into the 100s, we brought Colly onto bowl in tandem with our Swann and waited eagerly for the new ball. We counted down the overs until it was able as the batsmen recorded the highest sixth wicket Aussie Ashes stand at Lord's. It was desperate to watch. Brocko held a team huddle whilst the new ball was collected to try in an attempt to rally his troops and regain control of the match. Australia now needed 235 more runs to win the test. We were unable to regain composure and made no incisions with the new ball. Our flatness in the field for two hours or so as our bowlers toiled combined with the counter-attacking prowess of our opponents had nullified our belief. At 18.25, it was something of a relief when bad light stopped play. The past few hours of cricket had been trying viewing. A wicket never looked imminent. We need to regroup and recharge over night. Australia are now in sight of a nigh on impossible escape, needing 209 more runs to record a historic victory. We must be clinical tomorrow. The first hour will be crucial. A fairytale finish for Freddie is on the cards. We require 5 wickets for our first victory at Lord's for 75 years.

Quote of the Day: Robin Williams' immortal line deserves more exposure - "Cricket is basically baseball on valium".

Ornithological Count: Not a feather to divulge. It seems the birds were all in prayer.

Barminess Barometer: 50% - Rolf Harris was the highlight of the crowd. Sundays don't attract the premium brand.

There is nothing left to say. Come on England.