The Ashes, 2009

[ZenGum]

England declared overnight and Australia started the morning amid bad luck as Katich was given out off a no-ball that the umpire missed. Then Hughes was given out when the umpires failed to refer to the video umpire for a grassed catch, and Australia were 2 for 34, chasing 521.

Ponting chopped a ball off the inside edge of his bat onto the stumps, then Hussey was given out caught when replays showed he missed the ball, and when North was clean bowled Australia looked gone at 5 for 128.

Clarke and Haddin dug in, the runs flowed, the English wilted, the humid conditions and even the new ball did not help the attack, and when play was ended due to poor light, Australia were 5 for 313, still 208 runs short, but with a 180 run partnership just build, and a few more batsmen to come, daring to hope for an improbable victory.

It is unlikely in the extreme, but in the last test series in Australia, the Aussies snatched an unexpected victory chasing on the last day. The English are clearly in front, but are more nervous than you might expect.