Mm, bad light, and the Aussies took it. Unusual decision that one, given that they need to win it. 112-0 isn't bad I suppose, but they're going to have to score lots of runs quickly tomorrow and put England back in.
The way Hayden and Langer have batted today, I suspect there is a stiffened resolve in the dressing room - if there is, you could see them batting all day tomorrow and some of Sunday to set England 300 (or a day and a half) to avoid losing. A storm this evening isn't enough - for a weather-induced draw, England need to lose at least a complete day's play, if not two.
Pat Murphy, the BBC'S pet Viler, said that when he asked Giles about the Aussie decision to take the light, he basically pissed himself, which is an entirely appropriate reaction, in the circumstances.
Well, I asked a cricket buff and he said it was a good decision. Apparently they knew that rain was virtually inevitable before the end of play today. Why risk losing a wicket and getting a new batsman coming in when the light was bad? If they'd turned down the offer of bad light when offered, it wouldn't be offered again unless conditions deteriorated further. Oh, and something about the pitch getting wet and the ball turning more or somesuch gibberish. I'd just about lapsed into a coma by this stage anyway.
Winning through rain wouldn't be unfair, given that the only reason Australia aren't down 3-1 instead of 2-1 is bad weather. Does anyone else find it bizarre the degree to which Ponting appears to be losing it? That speech to the press declaring everyone should blame the other players was beyond belief. Not the level of mental toughness expected from an Australian cricket captain, and I imagine Alan Border had words with him about it.
From what I understand, minutes lost due to weather/bad light can be made up on subseequent days, so perhaps the batsmen choosing an early evening wasn't a bad decision. Especially when you could be facing a 145 km/hr reverse swinger from Flintoff in the gloom.
Looks like England are doing their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Hold on there!
Step up, KP! Touch of class from the big man.
It's over. Two early drops of Pietersen proved to be the deadly moment--if they get him early, the final Australian innings might well have been a thrilling ODI-style run chase, but with him burning off 187 balls, Australia had no chance at making 341 in eighteen overs...
