Day three at the Gabba

When England first boarded the plane at Heathrow on the 29 October, fans, pundits and former players were saying this was the best chance in 24 years that they had at achieving mission impossible, winning the Ashes in the Baggy Green's backyard.

It's not every day that Ricky Ponting's side go into a series as underdogs, but with several first team players misfiring, and an initial 17-man squad selected, no-one was questioning it.

Yet day three at a sun-drenched Gabba saw the Aussies bring their opponents back down to earth with thump. Mike Hussey (195), who scored an confidence-boosting knock of 118 for Western Australia against Victoria eight days ago, recaptured this form is sublime fashion.

When Australia lost Marcus North yesterday at 143-5, the match was walking a tightrope and could have fallen either way. As it was, over the course of the third day the Aussies not only passed England's mediocre score, they almost doubled it.

Now England skipper Strauss should hang his head in shame for a good part of what took place in the second session today. Clearly frustrated at the lack of wickets coming their way, a series of negative field placements to dry up the run flow coming from Hussey and Brad Haddin (136) will have driven several England fans in the UK to bed.

A defining moment, amidst the endless boundaries ebbing from Hussey and Haddin, the latter lashed at a wide delivery from Steven Finn after passing his century that would have gone straight down second slip's throat. An anguished look upon Strauss's face said it all, outstretched on the deck having been the closest to the ball, the skipper knew that desperate times had caused him to remove all remaining slip catchers.

Aside from Haddin gaining reprieves through dropped catches from Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook, the former catching him later in the day, Australia batted with delightful craftsmanship and superb intelligence. They deserve to be in the position they have put themselves in, as despite a spirited performance by debutant Steven Finn who took 6-125, the day belonged to the hosts.

A tale of two men has given this game a plot, and now Strauss and co must give the story another twist in order to avoid going one down. The memories of Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad's partnership of 332 against Pakistan, or James Anderson and Monty Panesar against Australia at Cardiff in 2009, need to be called upon to recreate what many now say would be a miracle.

The saying is, 'form comes and goes, but the talent is always there', and if England are going to wade out of this mire, it is crucial they perform with the bat. To end the day unscathed after 15 pivotal overs was the perfect start, but the job is long from finished, and they will need to bat for at least the next four sessions if they are to get any kind of result in this game.

It is clear that the hosts' were not too fond of the underdog tag, and while Hussey and Haddin prepare to dismantle England once again, Strauss will be pondering what they have done to find themselves on the end of a potential drubbing. Chapter four, ready when you are.