Day One, Third Test at Trent Bridge

Today had it all.

Seventeen wickets, 290 runs, a crowd that transformed from a quiet church mouse to a roaring excitement machine and a change in momentum that saw England fight back into serious contention in this third Test match.

For the fifth time in this series, our bowlers, led again by Glenn McGrath, ran through the England batting line-up like a tornado ripping through a lonely coastal fishing village.

Extracting movement from the well-grassed pitch and through the humid air, our pace men looked dangerous from ball one.

With our blonde spin wizard landing the ball with the accuracy of an International dart champion, the England batsmen were always under intense pressure.

By the time the pots of tea and ham and cheese rolls made it to our changing room at 1540BST the cherished Ashes urn looked and felt well within our grasp.

The crowd were quiet, England were down and the press were probably writing their scathing articles and sending them off before our opponents had even re-entered the arena.

One thing I have learned over the years is that this game can never be taken for granted.

Even with Matt Hayden and Michael Slater starting solidly, the England attack were looking more daunting with the introduction of Alex Tudor to their team.

When our in-form left-hander fell over a well pitched up delivery from Tudor, the impetus slowing starting changing direction.

The loss of our top order followed by the crucial wickets of the Waugh twins and Damien Martyn left the euphoric crowd screaming and singing for the good of their country.

In a matter of minutes the face of this game turned dramatically.

My feeling all along has been that this series was not going to be as easy as everyone from the press to the public have been suggesting.

This game is now on, and it is there for the taking. Being as objective as possible, England hold the upper hand after the first three sessions.

Not for the first time in this series, we have been challenged, and it is now the time for us to show why we have been so successful over the last few years.

A confident and believing England team, will be no push over as we have seen this afternoon.

Friday should be another wonderful day of Test cricket

JL