Fletcher not giving up hope

Duncan Fletcher puts on a brave face after a hard assault from Australia

Coach Duncan Fletcher admitted England face a “huge task” after Adam Gilchrist’s whirlwind century put Australia firmly in command on day three of the third Ashes Test.

The tourists finished the day on 19 for one after Gilchrist’s 57-ball century - the second quickest of all time - helped Australia declare 556 runs ahead, on 527 for five.

It leaves England needing to score the highest total in history to win a Test if they are to prevent another convincing defeat and surrender the Ashes to Australia just 15 months since they regained them.

But Fletcher has not given up hope of his side battling for two days to overhaul the West Indies’ record total of 418 for seven to beat Australia in Antigua three years ago.

“It’s frustrating because we’ve come out here wanting to win the Ashes,” explained Fletcher. “We’re two down and we’ve got a huge task tomorrow, but we’ve just got to see what happens and take it from there.

“What we’ve got to do is bat for two days, there’s no point us pitching up thinking otherwise. It’s a difficult challenge but the individuals have got to come here and show their worth.

“We’ve been through this before and the guys have bounced back on numerous occasions. They’ve just got to make sure they pitch up tomorrow with a positive frame of mind and realise there is still quite a lot of cricket to be played.”

Gilchrist’s stunning century, which included 12 fours and four sixes, helped Australia add 162 in only 20 overs and compile 408 runs in a day to all but crush England’s hopes of fighting their way back into the Test.

Adam Gilchrist roars his delight after reaching a memorable hundred © Getty Images

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His innings followed centuries from Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke, who finished unbeaten on 135 off only 164 balls but looked pedestrian in comparison to Gilchrist.

But Fletcher insisted England’s struggles were not affected by the news that popular left-arm spinner Ashley Giles had returned home to be with his wife Stine, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“I don’t think it had an effect on the players today,” he claimed.

“Some of the players heard last night and they were pretty upset, but when we arrived this morning we said it was for Ashley and we had to go out there and play some good cricket.

“We did do that during the early stages and the bowlers bowled well for the first two sessions, but you’ve got to give credit to Gilchrist.

“He came in and batted magnificently. He can take the game away from you in an hour and he had two good hours and showed he’s a quality player.”

Michael Clarke makes hay as Australia strengthen their advantage late in the day

Gilchrist, who hit 24 off one over from Monty Panesar, claimed he was not aware he was within reach of breaking the record held by Viv Richards; he made a 56-ball hundred against England at Antigua 20 years ago.

Needing four off two balls to become the new record holder, he pushed a single off the first and let a wide Matthew Hoggard delivery pass outside off stump before reaching three figures off the next one he faced.

“I had no idea I was in sight of the record,” said Gilchrist. “I would have guessed that Viv Richards was somewhere in the mix, but I didn’t know. It’s a shame I didn’t tickle that wide one from Hoggard.

“It was probably once I got to 50 and then had that big over off Monty Panesar.

"When he came on from that end with a decent breeze I made a decision to attack him.

"Then we threw the question back to the dressing room about whether we wanted to have a look at England tonight if we pressed on. We read it as a 'yes' but apparently it was a 'no'”

Clarke added: “It was unbelievable to watch. At one stage he said we were going for them so I thought I’d have a go.

"But he was hitting them so I just tried to get a single and let him go because every ball he hit was off the middle of the bat."