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!
