A near miss

Yesterday morning, after India had put on 111 for their last wicket, and England had suffered yet another batting collapse at Trent Bridge, the editor was tempted to publish a cricketing 'Thought of the Day'.

He had spotted one that made him smile on the BBC Sports website of Live coverage of the Test match. A reader had sent in a pithy comment, which by memory, said something like:
"A signed bat by this England cricket team would attract less at auction than my Aunt Minnie's rolling pin."

"Why, or why, is it always the opposition that scores massive last wicket stands against us, and never England?" the editor planned to add.

Fortunately, he refrained. A near miss indeed. Because, as all will know, England's last wicket pair proceeded to put on 198 runs, the highest in Test cricket history, establish an unlikely first innings lead, and create a new batting hero in Jimmy Anderson with his career best of 81.

Now, is it tempting fate to ask if Captain Cook can score more in this match in two innings than the Germans did against Brazil?

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