There may be trouble ahead...

The word momentum has become almost a cricketing cliché, but it always surprises me just how quickly momentum can change during the course of a cricket match. Like most people when I woke up on Thursday morning to see Australia 268 all out and England leaving the field 28-0, I had a strange sensation in my stomach. At the time I thought it was confidence, a sense of excitement, the ashes coming home before Christmas. If you ask me now, I will say (and be lying) that it was a sense of nervousness, because we should never write off the Aussies.

Why wouldn't I, or many England or India fans have felt the same on Thursday? By the end of day one of the third test, India would have been saying "we saw this rubbish not too long ago", and England fans would have still seen Mitchell Johnson as a bowler in shocking form.

The pivotal moments in this test have come in the first innings. Having Australia 68-5, England need to show a more ruthless touch, to not let their foot off the Australian throat, but to instead stamp down, jump if needs be. The match should have been killed off their and then. Instead Mike Hussey (now leading run scorer in the series) yet again got stuck in, a consistent sense of calm when the rest of his colleagues seem adamant on gifting their wickets to a below par England attack.

Perhaps the most significant moment was Mitchell Johnson's 62 was exactly what he needed. To be dropped from the second test after what was quite frankly a shocking display in the opener and to come back the way he has is fantastic for Australia and more importantly for the series. The series was looking eerily one sided, but there was always the thought that Australia could only get better. The thing that worries me is that their batting could still improve, and if the last two day splay have proved anything, its that when Australia are fired up and ready for the fight, a number of the England players lose their sparkle.

England at 81-5, with Bell and Anderson starting the day, will do well if they can drag the game out till tea, and the top order, Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Collingwood have alot to answer for, because on a track with pace, they have all been found technically wanting.

Like I said though, it does make the next test a compelling watch, I hope from a biased sake England can come back fighting, hopefully this match is nothing more than a wake up call.

Quick word on the title... woke up to my dad singing this, still don't know whether it was regarding the cricket score or the 5 inches of snow!

World Cup so far...

Currently watching Brazil vs Portgual, two flair teams coming together to show us how to foul each other. As Mick McCarthy puts it

'I haven't got a hat, but if he scores I'm prepared to go and buy one, and eat it.'

This World Cup had the potential to disappoint, especially after the first round of games, or as they should now be renamed the "we must not try to win" games.The best example of this is Ivory Coast vs Portugal. Sven and his Ikea loving crionies must be kicking themselves with their diamond covered heels right now, not having a go at Portugal, now they just need the small matter of 8 goals in the next 15 minutes, I know they're playing North Korea but still I have my doubts.

Then recently it began to spark into life, Portugal's 7 against North Korea, Messi flying and Maradonna's touchline antics. My favourite Maradonna quote so far "Pele should go back to the museum". Lets not forget some of the romances that we all love. the story of the underdog, Japan and Slovakia both getting through to the next stages, Honda looks like a class act, I wouldn't be suprised if he is snapped up by one of the big 4 European leagues. Also Slovakia's performance against Italy was tactically spot on.

The major shock of the tournament? France going out? Italy finishing below New Zealand in their group? No, the fact neither team will be missed in the latter stages of the tournament. Both teams froze on the big stage, with a severe lack of passion, urgency, discipline and skill.

Being English I have to mention our team. So far, very poor. We limped into the knockout rounds and now face Germany, and for the first time in the tournament we will be tested defensively, Ozil and co look very sharp going forward, and Lahm looks like a contender for player of the tournament with 3 dynamic performances so far. My verdict? We will win 2-1, just like we did in a friendly, Germany's attacking strength will give us the space to open them up, I hope...