This innings isn’t going to plan for England as the first wicket partnership has moved on to 68. Shane Watson has moved to 36 and Chris Rogers 32 as they continue to put England to the sword. Momentum seems to be back with Australia and that can be a dangerous thing when a man of Watson’s calibre is at the crease. The tourists need 243 runs to win whilst the hosts are still striving for the first wicket of the 10 they need. The general chatter around the ground has grown quieter over recent overs with the crowd sensing the important period ahead.

With lunch taking precedence at Trent Bridge at this moment in time the topic of Australia’s startlingly impressive run rate will definitely be on the lips of the crowd. Having almost made more runs in their second innings partnership then they did in their first at a much more confident and casual rate, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers seem to be playing the game with the passion that the Australian fans and players will undoubtedly be wanting to see. With 28 runs off 42 balls it is starting to look like a more promising approach by the Aussies and after their first Innings victory it will come as no surprise to see their confidence rising as each ball is struck to the boundary with a sense on nonchalance.

With England all out in their second innings for 375, putting Australia in the position of having to chase 311 runs for the win. It seems inevitable that the question is on everyone’s mind as to whether the travelling team can turn up any more surprises; especially in the shape of 19-year-old Ashton Agar.

311 seems like a long slog and a hard score to make for this seemingly lacklustre Australia yet as we witnessed in the first innings the Aussies weren’t too short of surprises. Reaching a record breaking debut score for a number 11 at the tender age of 19 Agar managed to surpass all expectation and came to the forefront of international cricket in a bit of rush, in such a manner that his success may influence his team to step up their game.

It remains to be seen as to whether Australia can do the impossible and scrape a win and as to whether Agar can remain unfazed by the pressure placed on his shoulders to perform to expectation for his country.

Australia negotiated the 7 overs possible before lunch for the loss of no wickets. They go into the interval on  28-0 needing a further 283 more to win. Swann will be key throughout the afternoon session but Shane Watson remains and he could be the danger man for Australia due to ability to take the game away from the opponent. He is on 18 at lunch with partner Rogers on 10. Join us in 40 minutes to see how the afternoon session unfolds.

3) Headingly 1981 – A lost captaincy invigorates a leaders performance:

After the struggling Ian Botham was rightfully replaced as captain by recalled 39-year-old Mike Brearley the seemingly broken man almost single-handedly turned the English teams misfortunes on its head. With England sitting 227 behind the Aussies the deflated Botham came to the crease and – partnered with Graham Dilley, Chris Old and finally Bob Willis – managed to play some wonderful strokes putting Australia in the position of having to chase 180 runs for the win; a score which seemed to shock all after the prior poor performance of the home side.

Australia began positively reaching 56 for one before Willis was brought in to bowl at which point, behaving like a man possessed, the visiting team was forced into a state of disarray. After flattening Ray Bright’s middle stump Bob Willis had taken an astounding 8 for 43 making England only the second team in history to win a Test after following on. Who would have thought it?

Graeme Swann is the next man to fall, edging Siddle to first slip where Shane Watson completed the formalities. The Nottinghamshire spinner falls for 9 but will be licking his lips at the pitch as it continues to break up. Anderson only lasts two balls as England fall to 375 all out, a lead of 310. Australia will be chasing 311 to win and with six sessions left it isn’t the toughest task. However, fourth innings chases are normally tricky at Trent Bridge leaving the game in the balance once more.