England aim for history books

Adam Gilchrist was one of three batsmen to make a hundred for Australia © Getty Images

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England face an “incredible” challenge to try to stay in the Ashes tomorrow, after Adam Gilchrist’s “magnificent” batting in the third Test at Perth.

That stark assessment came from England coach Duncan Fletcher today as he digested a close-of-play day-three card which shows his team’s attempt to make a highly unlikely 557 to win has so far stumbled to 19 for one.

Andrew Flintoff’s team had no answer as Gilchrist (102no) – one of three Aussies to reach three figures – did so from only 57 balls in a total of 527 for five declared.

“It is very difficult. It is a real challenge, an incredible one, that we have to undertake tomorrow,” admitted Fletcher, who nonetheless does not appear to have completely given up hope that his tourists can somehow improve by almost 200 runs on England’s all-time highest last-innings run chase.

“Sometimes you are there to make history,” he pointed out.

“The first four batters have to bat well, and we will see how it goes from there.”

Fletcher sympathised with the England attack, after watching Gilchrist run amok.

“I thought the bowlers bowled very well in those first two sessions – but then you get a guy like Gilchrist coming in and taking it away from you. He batted magnificently,” he said.

The coach looked back on a lost opportunity as England failed to cash in on having bowled Australia out relatively cheaply in the first innings.

Andrew Flintoff still has a smile on his face despite England's woes in the series

“We’d done well to bowl them out for 244 – it isn’t often you get Australia out for that kind of score,” he said.

“But then we lost an opportunity to get well past them.”

Flintoff, meanwhile, is remaining upbeat about England’s struggles – according to Fletcher.

“It is difficult any time captaining an international side, and a situation like this is very tough for him,” he conceded.

“But he still has a smile on his face. He will be looking forward to going out and getting some runs tomorrow.”

One bright spot for England in this match – which they must at least draw to have any chance of retaining the Ashes they won for the first time in a generation last year – is the bowling of spinner Monty Panesar.

The slow left-armer was controversially omitted from the first two Tests – both of which were lost.

Fletcher reasoned: “At Adelaide there was a chance (to pick Panesar). But a great bowler, Shane Warne, took 84 overs to get four wickets in Adelaide.

“It did not really help the spinners.”

Adam Gilchrist scores the second-fastest Test century, off 57 balls © Getty Images

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Gilchrist claimed he was not too concerned about missing out on scoring the fastest Test century of all time.

The wicket-keeper smashed a magnificent 57-ball ton as Australia piled on the agony for England in the third Test on Perth.

His effort was just one ball short of equalling Viv Richards’ 56-ball hundred against England in Antigua.

Gilchrist admitted he did not even know he was on the brink of a record and said: “I only found out when I came in – but I think Viv deserves that. I’m very comfortable with it.”

Gilchrist might have reached three figures earlier but for a widish delivery from Matthew Hoggard that he did not expect.

He added: “Hoggard bowled a really wide one, if I’d nicked that for four I might have had a chance.”

Gilchrist, however, paid tribute to his team-mates for laying the solid base for him to attack the bowling.

Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke also scored centuries while Matthew Hayden fell only eight short of a ton.

Gilchrist added: “They have been fantastic. It was conducive to fast run-scoring. We had that platform to put pressure on the bowlers.”

Hussey admitted he had been put in the shade by Gilchrist’s superb knock.

Mike Hussey crashes another ball to the boundary during his brilliant ton © Getty Images

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Hussey said: “Matthew Hayden and I were both having a laugh saying `What were we doing out there?’

“It was probably the most enjoyable of afternoons watching that batting. The stage was set perfect(ly) for him. He has been working hard on his batting, and there have been a few knockers.

“He didn’t know about the record - when we told him he’d missed it by two he couldn’t believe it. We didn’t need to send a message out, because he was going for it every ball.”

Hussey was outstanding himself, maintaining his fine start in Test cricket by adding 103 to his unbeaten 74 in the first innings.

He said: “England bowled pretty well. We had to work for our runs, so it was pleasing to get a hundred.

“It’s something I’ll never forget, seeing my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter waving. It is something I’ll remember forever.

“I don’t know why I’ve had such a great start - but I hope to continue it. I’m a bit miffed about it myself!”