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So i woke up on Sunday morning reasonably hung over following the hockey club Christmas party and considered leaping out of bed to watch England’s demise. Instead I lay there for an hour or so drifting in an out of sleep before being tempted downstairs by a cup of tea.  Flicking the TV on and squinting at the screen I thought I was still drunk whenI realised that Cook was still at the crease.  Another few seconds and I realised that KP was at the other end and we were only 3 down.  Wow - could we still do it?  I sat back to watch the final 8 overs of the day, chanting what all England fans will have been chanting “please get to the close of play without losing a wicket”.  Sadly it wasn’t to be, and when Cook went, and Hoggard trudged out like a lamb to the slaughter you just knew we would be at least 5 down before close.  The subsequent dismissal of Hoggard raises the age old question, which nobody has been able to answer for me.  “Why bother with a night watchman?”  By virtue of being a lower order batsman, surely he has less chance of surviving then somebody with more batting talent?  All we did as far as I can see is give another wicket away.  But that’s an arguement that will rage on - we are not the only side to do it afterall.

Monday morning saw me up at 6:45 and turn the TV on with the expectation that it would all be over.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that England were still batting and not only that but KP and Flintoff were still in.  I was a bit puzzled by the fact that they were only 8 overs in, and that  they kept referring to the first few balls of the day and the morning session.  Maybe against all the odds the rain dance I attempted whilst drunk on Saturday night had actually worked.  And then I noticed it.  Top right hand corner just under the Sky Sports logo.  Where it normally says “Live” was the word “Replay”.  England had failed to bat the day, and must have failed to bat until tea even.  That took the edge off of watching Flintoff’s little cameo, knowing that despite the Ozzies looking a little worried, that we had failed.  I did watch a couple more wickets tumble and Jones finish his test career in seasonably pantomime style, before turning it off.  No doubt there will be excuses from all quarters, and yes, despite what Healy said in the commentary box, England have had a poor run of umpires decisions.  However, the team and selectors only have themselves to blame.  Let the inevitable inquest begin….