Freddie got the Jade Stadium party started

And they could not, even in their wildest and most optimistic dreams, have imagined a Test like the one that unfolded before their eyes here.

It was very much a case of 'here we go again' as England slumped to 0-2 inside the first over of the Test on an ultra jade wicket at the Jade Stadium.

But perhaps the thousand or so backpacking England fans should have known that this was going to be no ordinary match when Michael Vaughan smacked the eighth ball of the game miles into the number one stand for six runs.

Although England struggled through the morning session it was that stroke that proved to be a defining moment for the England supporters.

'We're rich, we're brown...'

It sparked many of them into life with a medley of the Barmy Army songs and chants that have brought them fame around the world.

The Army celebrates Thorpey's double ton

Many made the most of the favourable exchange rate by consuming copious amounts of beer. And it led to the song 'We're rich, we're brown, three dollars to the pound'.

The third day was played under yet another glorious, cloudless Canterbury sky.

And with Freddie Flintoff and Graham Thorpe in full flow, Barmy Army launched into a chorus of 'Rip up your Wisdens, rip up your Wisdens tonight!'

They were blissfully unaware that various other records would be torn to shreds once more within 24 hours.

Crazy dream

I'll need to see that fourth day's play time and time again to believe that what we saw on the field of play actually took place and wasn't some sort of crazy dream.

If Nathan's Astle double ton looked good back home in England then it looked even better in the flesh but was probably responsible for a deluge of English supporters suffering from heart palpations at Christchurch A&E!

With eight, and then nine wickets down, the Barmy Army launched into those dubious classics of 'One-Nil to the England' and 'Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to see England win away'.

Freddie got the Jade Stadium party started

But as Astle twice smacked Andy Caddick onto the streets surrounding the stadium - the doubts surfaced.

I missed out on the opportunity of being 1,000 dollars (306 GB pounds) richer just three balls before the end of the match - the prize for catching a six.

Astle straight drove his eleventh maximum of the innings and I saw it homing in on me like some sort of red leather exocet missile.

But two other fans sitting in the row in front of me had the same idea and between them managed to deflect the ball away from my perfectly-positioned stance.

The next thing I knew the ball had thudded at terrifying speed into the Freddie Flintstone wendy-house, purchased in Bangalore in homage to Flintoff, and I slumped down in shock, thankful for my lucky escape!

Once the shock of being within inches of my life had subsided I was able to join in the celebrations in the pubs of Christchurch until the wee small hours.

For my sanity, bank balance and liver I hope the next Test in Wellington isn't quite so frenetic!