Ashes: Can England complete a stunning comeback in the first Test against Australia?

The venue is The Gabba, in Brisbane.

The highlights show is on the iPlayer from 17h00 and ball-by-ball commentary on Test Match Special is on the website and app.

This wasn't part of the script.

The first two days of the series gave England cricket fans little to cheer about, but on Friday many woke up to some welcome hope.

Australia were defeated by England by a score of 425 to 147. Things went from bad to worse for England as they reached 61-2 with the openers falling.

The most remarkable turn of events was when they put on a 159-run partnership at the Gabba in Brisbane to reduce the deficit to 58, as they had been 58 for 5.

England is in the game. Is it possible that a famous win is now a real possibility?

The miracle is possible.

Simon Mann said on air that the miracle is possible, but there is a long way to go.

There was a feeling of inevitability when Hameed was dismissed. The dressing room and England fans at home have been given some encouragement by the two men.

Jonathan Agnew said that from a very desperate position, they've given themselves a chance.

The "momentum is with England" going into the fourth day, said former captain Alastair Cook.

It was just the day that England needed. After the first two days, it was all doom and gloom.

At the toss, Root said this side had character. The character he and Malan showed was amazing.

Glenn said that the tourists were in control of the match at the moment and were bringing England back into it.

Shades of 2010 and will Aussies do the same?

The two men have been batting for 50 overs together in England's second game.

England fans enjoy the moment, but attention now turns to the fourth day.

"We need one good 100 run partnership to put a good score on the board and then who knows what can happen," he said.

England's performance in the Brisbane Test in 2010 is already being compared to that of England.

The first day of the opening Test saw Australia post

England declared on 517-1 and Australia ended on 106-2 in the second day of their tour match.

Agnew sees a different outcome this time around than he did in the past.

The famous 2010-11 match is not an option with two full days to play, he said.

Cook questioned whether Australia will be able to handle the pressure under Pat Cummins, referencing their recent record of losing winnable matches.

"We know that the Australia side has cracked under pressure, we saw that against India last year and at the end of the year at the Headingley tournament," he said.

Australia's bowlers were beaten by India in the home series, while England's Ben Stokes scored a century in the historic win at Headingley.

The new ball and statistics are frightening.

The statistics aren't what the momentum is with England.

Only once before has a team been so behind that they went on to win.

The only authentic feat is Australia's victory over Sri Lanka in 1992, which happened when Pakistan did not return to the field against England. Australia won by 16 runs.

The man who scored a brilliant 152 in the first Test is hopeful that Australia will take the lead in the series.

He said that they were in a great position with a 60-run lead and a new ball.

We can drive the game if we can get them five or six down.

Ian Chappell is a former Australia captain.

It looks like the kind of pitch we saw last season where India had to score 330 to win the game and they did that. He said on the show that it was a decent fourth-innings track.

"England has to keep batting and not get too far ahead of themselves."

A new ball will be available for the Australia seam attack to use in the early part of the day.

The players, pundits and commentators all agreed that the first session will be crucial, with Agnew saying the "new ball will be dangerous but another 200 runs will make it interesting".

Australia cricket journalist Geoff Lemon said things can still change.

Australia will be a bit uneasy.

"Australia's position is not bad, but an opposition at 220 for 2 will be feeling pretty good about life." The Australian team has a tendency to let sides back into the match after being down.

In Australia's most recent match in January this year, they were well on top, but didn't bat India out of the game in either of the two games." India was chasing 329 to win.

India held on for a draw in the Sydney Test. Australia beat England by four runs at Headingley in the second match of the year, after bowling them out for 67 on the second day.

England were all out for 147 on the first day, Australia were all out for 425 in the best of the batting conditions, and yet not being able to turn the screw after dismissing both openers with the lead at 217.

Things can change, and probably will. England can be dismissed with only a small lead. A collapse could see England lose.

There is a chance that Root and Malan will underpin something more imposing. Australia won't be comfortable with the fact that there is a chance.

What they said.

Our fightback today is significant. When there is a fairly even contest between the two sides, the Ashes series is always fascinating. Our last two tours were not as good as today's performance suggests.

Jack Rule: I can't believe I'm awake to see this! We had a good day's play. Can we start a three day test on the first two days of class?

I was woken up this morning by the first words that came to my mind, "I'm afraid the worst." At 6.45am, it was quite an emotional roller coaster.

I wanted to wake up to a report that showed England had not given up and had fought back.

Test cricket is the best form of the game. End of.

They do this when we're comfortable with our loss. It's the hope that kills you.