Today, England needed two.
Down two wickets in the last day, someone needed to bat out the day to save the match for England. When I went to bed last night, I was hopeful that we could do it... Pietersen, Strauss, Flintoff, Collingwood... No slouches in the international arena, surely they could keep a cool head and bat out 90+ overs and save the match.
Leo slept in this morning, and by the time I logged on, England had already lost two wickets.
My immediate reaction was "OK, not that bad. Flintoff and Colly still it come - they can bat for 6-7 hours, right?"
When Freddie fell down 112 runs, we were definitely toast. Colly and the bowlers - 5 hours left. No one could save us now...
But then cricket's a funny old game, innit?
As I headed off to cricket today (NOT wearing my England kit - in case that might help our cause) I had no idea that Paul Collingwood - the Ginger Ninja - would set about becoming one of England's heroes today...
By the time he fell on the fifth day of an Ashes Test, he had batted for over 5 hours and faced 245 balls.That's a little more than facing EVERY BALL of two of our 10-over games.
Against world-class bowling.
Without getting out.
Now that he had gone, two men stood between us and THEM.
James Anderson. 49 matches in a row without being dismissed for a duck.
Monty Panesar. The first Sikh to play for England, and probably their worst batsman ever.
How did he feel?
If we could be heroes... just for one day.
All of England and Wales now threw thei hopes and dreams on the shoulders of these two.
They would have to survive 45 minutes without giving up their wicket. still down 6 runs. Fielders all round the bat.
And ever single established batsman who batted today had gotten out.
What were their chances???
Just watch the final frame and find out...
And here, someone who put it way better than I...
