Australia had a shocking day of cricket at the Gabba, taking just one wicket in six hours and watching a lead of over 200 turn into an 88-run deficit.
Centuries to Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss represent the turning of a corner for England. Prior to the day they had just one against Australia between them – Cook's 116 in Perth back in 2006.
They left the ground with the England's highest ever opening partnership at the Gabba, 188, proving what they've been saying all along - this is a side without the soft belly that it's had in the past.
But all of England's fight and success has essentially condemned a thrilling Test to end in an anticlimactic draw.
"You always have to be able to find a way to get them out. And the way that we can do that is by making the most of our bowling options and fulfilling our roles," Watson said.
"We are still in the game, no doubt. But we do have to turn it around very quickly. They're only 88 runs ahead at the moment."
"They've still got nine wickets, which makes it seem like a long way away after today, but there's still quite a bit of hope for us."
"We have to turn it around and do much better tomorrow morning, and we'll see what happens from there."
The only real chance of a result is if England come out on the first morning all guns blazing, make a quick-fire 200, and then offer Australia a dangerous chase on the fifth day pitch.
Telling press that the opening exchanges would decide the mission statement for England, as to whether they'd make a sporting declaration or simply look to demoralise the Australians with a second straight day in the field.
"We're not looking further than the first half hour at this stage. The game generally develops one way or the other. By lunch it'll be clearer as to where we are and where the game's heading," he said.
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