Day four at the Gabba

Stumps: England 309-1 and 260. Australia 481.

Did that really happen? Have England actually batted an entire day for the loss of only a single wicket, and come right back into the match? Or were we only dreaming? During an Ashes series, early-morning disbelief works both ways – positive and negative.

The majority of us totter off to bed at the 2.00am lunch break. But by then even the greatest pessimists could slip between the sheets with a reasonable confidence Cook and Strauss might bat England most of the way out of trouble.  From the very start, it had felt like being our day. Strauss bristled with intent, his innings the perfectly pugnacious blend of resolve and brio. At the other end was Alastair Cook’s twin brother, who not only looks just like him but also turns out to be a very good test batsman.

Let’s wait till the match is over to celebrate today’s achievements. We can still lose, as anyone who’s ever watched England knows all too well. It’s hard to escape the feeling this test has at least one more twist in its tail. Andrew Strauss, in his close of play interview, was at pains to stress how much work remains to be done, and as Simon Wilde points out in the Sunday Times, “Everyone is thinking about Adelaide 2006, and not wanting to invite a repeat.”

Without tempting fate…if we do make the game safe, should Strauss insert Australia for a session, in the hope of picking up a few, demoralising, wickets? Former England opener, and Daily Telegraph columnist Steve James, argues the opposite: “A declaration? Forget it. Grind them into the dirt and make sure they crawl to Adelaide for the second Test.”

It is of course churlish, undignified, and unsporting, to revel in Australia’s fielding mishaps. But also great fun, and I personally plan to spend most of the day doing it. What’s not to enjoy about the sight of Mitchell Johnson desperately groping at thin air? Australia put down three chances in all, and generally looked lacklustre in the field. Again, let’s not gloat too soon. Aussies have a nasty habit of getting the final say.

Johnson is having a matchus horribilis. As Martin Johnson (also of the Sunday Times) put it: “His promise that he would be targeting Andrew Strauss is starting to look a bit rich given that, on current form, he would struggle to target a sightscreen.”

Even his body art and facial hair are earning opprobrium. In the words of Australian blogger Jarrod Kimber, “Rubbish bowling. Rubbish moustache. Rubbish batting. Rubbish tattoos. Rubbish fielding.” Mitchell Johnson’s problem, it strikes me, is that everything he does lacks conviction, as if he never quite believes in himself. Even his Richard Hadlee-lite moustache – which he seemingly grew in a desperate bid to convince himself he really is a nasty, hostile, vicious fast bowler, and not the rather shy, diffident character he actually appears to be.

Other random observations from day four. Why were so few Australians in the crowd today? Is Aussie interest in test cricket waning – or has everyone in Brisbane now come to live in London? Would be good to hear some Antipodean thoughts on this.

And why has Sky Sports suddenly begun to display the caption “Match coverage provided by Channel 9” every few minutes? Are they embarrassedly trying to distance themselves from the antics of the Australian broadcaster, whose values are perhaps a little more unreconstructed than their UK counterparts. Last night they spent at least five minutes on a close-up of four unidentified, but conspicuously attractive young women. As the saying goes, you can take the cameraman out of Australia…

Thoughts, reaction to today…predictions for tomorrow? Tell us below…