The thin line between success and failure

Brisbane Day 4: England 309-1, 88 runs ahead (surely some mistake?)

Fortified by a prime cut steak, several glasses of Rioja and great company over dinner, I overcame any hints of tiredness to watch the first hour's play on Day 4. After witnessing the serene progress of Strauss and Cook to reach 80 without loss, I finally retired to bed with renewed confidence that England could make a decent fist of their second innings. And so it proved. At last a day's cricket which belonged unquestionably to the English team.

Which just goes to prove how thin is the line between success and failure in top class sport. Saved by a matter of technological millimetres yesterday, of course Andrew Strauss would take full advantage and score a hundred. It's what sportsmen of the highest quality do when they are thrown a lifeline. 110 runs and a decent chance of saving a match which seemed all but lost. Or two ducks, 1-0 down and a mountain to climb in the rest of the series. I know which one I'd take.

But we're not out of the woods yet. Although I awoke to discussion of a possible England declaration on Day 5, this seems to be wishful thinking to me. A quick clatter of wickets in the morning session and it will be game on again.