The 2009 Ashes has swung backwards and forwards so many times, you can get whiplash if you’re watching too closely. Australia dominated in Cardiff but couldn’t close the deal. England led in Lords and the first half of the 3rd Test. Australia regained the balance for the next one and a half Tests. But now at the moment of truth, Australia had one session so disastrous, we may have just handed the Ashes to England.
It was a batting collapse so complete and insipid, it made England’s 4th Test debacle almost respectable. Australia are so far behind, it’s hard to see them coming back from here. The only ray of hope is our second innings. It’s a forlorn hope. England should bat through several sessions today, setting 300 to 400 runs for Australia to chase. We’ll have two days to run it down.
So time is not a factor. There will be no draw. The only question is whether Australia can put on the runs. On this dustbowl of a pitch, considering Australia’s first innings performance, it’s hard to see it happening. At this point, I would put my money on England regaining the Ashes. But there are at least two more days of Test cricket. I’ll put aside the sinking feeling in my gut and hope for an Aussie miracle.
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