The media reported that the temperature hit 40 degrees in the shade and 53 out in the middle at the WACA yesterday. This certainly meant a hard day at the office for the Beer Wench (please see comment from yesterday's blog), particularly as the authorities decided for some reason to only allow people to purchase two glasses at a time instead of four.

It was too hot for England who wilted as the day went on. For the first three hours the bowlers competed well but a series of dropped catches and an appalling non-LBW decision undermined their efforts. By mid afternoon the stage was set for a Gilchrist onslaught and he delivered in fine style, just failing to beat the fastest ever Test Match hundred by two balls. The Ashes are all but gone but the wicket is still playing well and you can only hope for a miracle.

The Kent CCC Member is downhearted and not just because of Jones's performance. The gismo on her lap top which allows us to link up with the Sky Box at home and watch any television programme from the UK, either live or recorded, has stopped functioning. This means we have not been able to watch Mark Ramprakesh's latest appearance on Strictly Come Dancing although we do know that he is through to the final next week despite his 'local' troubles. Let's hope he can achieve the 'double' for cricket in the final and help lift the spirits of the England cricketing fraternity.

The temperature is due to drop to 33 degrees for the fourth day of the Test Match and a single cloud has been spotted in the distance. That is probably the only hope we have - apart from Monty who is proving to be a star turn in everything he does.