Sport - The Ashes Day Four. Strauss leads from the front.

It's hero time

Miracles do happen. All over the UK England cricket fans were waking up this morning in disbelief at what they saw or heard from their chosen media, all of whom had obviously entered a massive conspiracy to avert the inevitable depression that comes with the inevitable English defeat. Sports editors nationwide concocted a fanciful scorecard for their public which showed England at a ludicrously unbelievable 309-1 at the close of day four. Except, of course, they hadn't had to concoct anything. For Strauss, Cook and latterly Trott all combined to give English cricket one of it's finest days down under.

Strauss batted like a man on a mission. His third ball duck in the first innings had given him the worst emotions he'd ever experienced on a cricket pitch. The man in form, the captain, knew he'd missed out and messed up. It was never going to happen again. Although only two England captains before him had ever made a century in the opening Ashes test  it was hardly ever in doubt Strauss was about to become the third. Cleverly supported by Cook both made the Australian attack look just what it was - very ordinairy. Ponting must go to bed these days dreaming of the lost riches of McGrath and Warne. Ponting must be a worried man.

When Strauss departed Cook and Trott seamlessly carried the sensible batting on. Australia failed to hang on to their catches and the bowling was at times insipid, the new ball all but being completely wasted. England are now 88 ahead with a possible 94 overs tomorrow. Batting to mid-afternoon on the 5th day ensures England cannot lose and would give them 35-40 overs to rattle a few Aussie wickets. Batting on to tea or longer means condemning Australia's bowlers to another long hot energy sapping day in the field.

The draw is virtually a nailed on certainty. But after today's miracle it is advantage England. The momentum is with the visitors.

Johnson drops Strauss. Australia drop Johnson?