Are you England in disguise?

It was raining when I arrived in the capital of the driest state in the driest continent on earth.

Could have been England if the mother country wasn't currently under a foot of snow. And at times it's seemed on this tour it's seemed as though the two countries have swapped roles. For while rain covers the entire east coast from Brisbane down to Sydney and across to Melbourne the Australian cricket team continue their passable impression of England in the 1990's.

"Ha, ha. That's the sort of thing England used to do!" Another text from Nathan that I've plundered as material for my blog.

This particular missive came just after Xavier Doherty had needlessly run himself out to leave the Aussies eight down with just 200 on the board on a blameless Adelaide track. At least I think it's a blameless track. We'll see what Australia do on it tomorrow. The weather may have returned to normal but that's about the only similarity between this Test and four years ago.

England are even being held up as the model to follow. Shortly before bowling Australia out for 245 on a pitch many forecast for a score double that Shane Warne spoke on Channel 9 about the importance of Australia learning from the way England bowled today. How times have changed.

By my reckoning England have now won nine of the last 10 sessions of cricket played in this series. And the only session Australia won was the last one at the Gabba which for all intents and purposes took place after the game had finished. But therein lies the warning signs because surely it can't continue to be this easy? No doubt the confidence will be in full supply tonight just as long as Strauss and Cook can see off the one over they'll have to face tonight.