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Into a fifth day we go, then. Nerves shredded and nails gnawed, but belief barbed. James Anderson took a five-fer, Joe Root stood the hell up and England, improbably, are in the game, even if Australia remain overwhelming favourites. They should have been locked out days ago but here they are, arguing with the big, bad bouncers, refusing to believe that their night out is over. The four-day Test mob – can we play you every week?

Anderson had Pete Handscomb given out to the day’s third ball, but it ended up being his fourth decision overturned on the day. On the way through to first slip, Hotspot showed his lifter took the shoulder not the glove. Still, he likes bowling to Handscomb, and had him soon enough, caught low in the gully. By then he’d ended a lively cameo from Nathan Lyon, the nightwatchman, too.

Woakes then chipped in with the wickets of Tim Paine, pulling, and Shaun Marsh, cleaned up through the gate. He was removed from the attack for Craig Overton to finish the job with the wicket of Josh Hazlewood, but not before Anderson had completed his 25th five-wicket haul. The target was as high as 354, but he had handed England hope.

Thanks to he and Root it’s on. Or is it? Maybe it is. Surely not.

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