Good morrow, gentlefolk. It is afternoon in Brisbane and who knows what time anywhere else. More importantly, it is crunch time for England. Let us be honest: the show is almost over. Resuming 43 runs behind with four wickets in hand, England lost the Test in that dramatic final hour last night, ending up at six wickets down.
“They haven’t lost yet!” Ah, you are correct, my apple-cheeked young interlocutor. Your belief in the impossible will stand you in good stead. So let’s consider, what must England do to turn this around? First, let’s have Ben Stokes and Will Jacks put on a double century partnership. Done. Then, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse whack 40 each, and Jofra Archer finishes it off to round the late-order contributions up to a hundred.
So that’s 300 in front, meaning 250 to defend, and then the same bowlers who’ve done all the batting will turn around and bowl out Australia.
Either that or England lose four in the first half hour and get this thing over and done with.
I may not be painting the rosiest picture, it’s true, but that’s out of annoyance at the lack of a contest through most of this series. Let’s see how this bit pans out, and if Stokes with the bat still has a streak of resistance still in him.
