My picks of the fourth day:
England fought back hard, skipper Andrew Strauss with his first century in Australia and his opening partner Alastair Cook also reaching a landmark century, his 14th, the first time since 1938 that both England openers have reached a century against Australia, Charlie Barnett and Len Hutton the last ones at Trent Bridge. It was a day to forget and a tale of woes for the Aussies, just one wicket from it, a lot of missed chances, slip-ups and mis-haps, England finishing the day on 309-1, 88 ahead.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 135-0, 86 behind, at lunch: England will be the happier to have survived the ealy scares, Strauss especially. Australia will wonder how they haven't got the breakthrough yet, nothing going their way, the visitor stayin put and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
2nd session, England 238-1, 17 ahead, at tea: England not showing any signs of backing down or going soft after losing their skipper, batting and scoring on safe and sound, Australia missing more chances, the day backfiring on them big time.
3rd session, England 309-1, 88 ahead, at the end of day four: England ending the day smoothly, not going too OTT on the bat, just keeping it going constantly, Australia having used up all their reviews just looking more and more desperate. It's like day three in reverse... Apart from the last session that is...
Partnerships: Strauss and Cook didn't quite get to emulate Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin, but at least they set out a good platform for England bat on, showing the Aussies that the guests are not there to crumble at the first challenge. They didn't quite flash and thrash it but that would have been too risky. They just kept at it nice and neatly, a couple of shouts and scares but the trend just showed it was going their way. Strauss then got himself out in silly fashion, maybe a bit over-confident after reaching the century, coming forward to attack a shot, too far out, nearly halfway down the pitch and ended up stumped by Haddin off Marcus North. Shame ending to an exemplary innings which you felt could and should have gone on for another couple of session if he could and would have resisted temptation. Jonathan Trott came in to join Cook, had a couple of close shaves too but is looking to be building up a good partnership with Cook too.
Bowling: It just wasn't Mitchell Johnson's day - dropping a catch, getting nothing out of the ball. North got the only wicket of the day, the man of the first innings Peter Siddle getting close calls but not much more out of the pitch either, same for Ben Hilfenhaus and Xavier Doherty. Australia used up their reviews desperate for wickets, wasting them on a couple of obvious not-outs. It was just fascinating to see the contrast to their first bowling innings and the similarities to England frustrating bowling innings - the Gabba's pitch is definitely not the bowler's friend.
Ups: What a difference a day makes again! Finally England showed they can be patient, consistent and not waste and give away chances and wickets and make it all too easy for the Aussies like in the Aussies. Finally it looks more like a competition - although a draw seems like the most likely result.
Downs: I hope it won't end up a draw - either way, both sides have played their hearts out so deserve more out of it... I know it's not possible to give both of them a win, but this match just deserves more than a draw...
Hero to zero: I think the Australian bowlers will be feeling like they have woken up to the wrong film in contrast to the first innings. They thought they were all ruling and cruising, just to be pegged back by the English batsmen - as mentioned, the Gabba is definitely not on the bowlers' fave list...
Australia v England first Test day four summary:
1st session:
31 overs bowled this morning, England 135-0, 86 runs behind, after 46 overs, Strauss on 79, Cook 51 at lunch. The skipper will be glad he got away with the chance he gave away earlier, Mitchell Johnson dropping him. Cook meanwhile is looking solid and backing up Strauss well, both left-handers enjoying their share of boundaries on the onside. Mitchell Johnson is still struggling to find his Test form on the field and with the ball whilst Siddle and Haddin are trying to pace it up and get something out of the pitch, but failing so far. England definitely the happier side after the start of the day.
2nd session:
England 238-1 at tea from, 17 ahead. Strauss out for 110 (224), 15 fours, 0 sixes. The skipper got himself out in silly fashion, maybe a bit over-confident after reaching the century, he came forward to attack a shot, too far out, nearly halfway down the pitch and got stumped by the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off Marcus North. Shame ending to an exemplary innings which you felt could and should have gone on for another couple of session if he could and would have resisted temptation. Cook is on 98* (200), 8 fours, 0 sixes, looking solid and the more responsible backup player, partner you can count on, nothing too flashy or risky. Trott is on 23 (47), 50 partnership of 71 balls at the break, see what the two can build up together and what Australia can change and do with the new ball due in two overs after the break.
3rd session:
Cook reaches his 14th test century, his second against Australia in the second over of the session, just before the new ball is due. This is the first time since 1938 that both England openers have reached a century, Charlie Barnett and Lan Hutton. Cook 103* off 207, 9 fours. New ball available to the Aussies now and taken, Hilfenhaus v Trott after they have given the uneven pitch a workover. Chance missed: catch slipped through Siddle's hands, couldn't quite get there, went through and past him for four instead. England 255-1, lead by 34 runs after 3 overs of the last session, reach their 30th boundary in the next over thanks to Trott now on 32*. Dropped by Clarke at backward-point on 34, the ball bounces out of Clarke's finger tips when he hits the floor, Siddle was already celebrating, good dive, stretch and effort, no luck for the Aussies (we know the feeling!), England 265-1, 44 ahead. 309-1 at the end of day four, 88 ahead.
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