Singing lady getting fatter at the ‘G
England need only 4 more wickets at the MCG to retain the Ashes.
With Ryan Harris hors de combat due to a stress fracture that caused him to pull up painfully during the morning session, that target is realistically only three – not that it would make much difference in any case.
Jonathan Trott finished not out on 168 with an average second only to Bradman as England made 513. Australia are currently 169 for 6 and it is likely that by lunch today it will be over.
Australia’s collapse for the second time in this match was their series in microcosm: men under pressure Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke failed again; Shane Watson got 50 but failed to kick on and in the process hammered another nail in the coffin of Phil Hughes’ Test career by calling him through for a dodgy single and running him out.
Mike Hussey, Australia’s erstwhile saviour, went for a duck.
Tim Bresnan was the chief wicket taker, Anderson and Swann chipped in and Tremlett was all over the batsmen like a rash for no reward; he looked bloody exhausted by stumps.
He wasn’t the only one – sitting in the Norovirus stand among a bunch of other poorly England fans who cheered every wicket with explosive sneezes and hacking coughs had me feeling a bit under the weather myself, and by lunch today I hope to be as high as a kite on flu medication and an England victory.
Happy days!