Only Manchester’s climate can rain on England’s parade getting into day three of the fourth Ashes Test.
Forecast rain on days 4 and 5 of the fourth Test pressured England into overdrive yesterday and Ben Stokes and Harry Brook will resume with their facet already 67 runs forward of Australia’s first innings.
But fickle climate may derail England’s hopes of levelling the collection at 2-2 with rain falling in Manchester on the morning of the third day.
Australia’s ways and staff choice have been firmly within the gun yesterday as Pat Cummins and his bowlers have been handled as cannon fodder by Zak Crawley, Joe Root and most of England’s batters.
Now England wants Mother Nature on its facet within the subsequent three days to arrange a grandstand end to this Ashes collection, which heads to The Oval for the fifth Test from Thursday.
Follow each key second from day three beneath.
12.02AM: AUSTRALIAN INNINGS UNDERWAY
Usman Khawaja and David Warner are within the center as Australia appears to knock off England’s 275-run first-innings lead.
11.52PM: BAIRSTOW STRANDED ON 99, ENGLAND ALL OUT 592
That is simply merciless.
Jonny Bairstow is stranded on 99 not out after Cameron Green will get James Anderson lbw.
England is all out for 592 however the choice has been reviewed.
The name is upheld and you need to really feel for Bairstow.
He deserved 100.
Former Victorian wicketkeeper Darren Berry tweeted: “Mate you said a few weeks ago you don’t understand the game anymore. You were wrong. This is as bad as I’ve ever seen. Surely someone must take control and accountability for this absolute madness.”
11.45PM: AUSSIE TORTURE CONTINUES
This has been really torturous bowling from Australia.
England is pinching singles to get Jonny Bairstow on strike, James Anderson is holding on and Bairstow is clearing the boundaries like he’s Chris Gayle in a T20 match.
The partnership is past 50 and Bairstow is closing in on what can be a outstanding hundred.
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has conceded extra runs than he ever has in a Test innings.
This is getting ugly.
11.22PM: BAIRSTOW, ANDERSON KEEPING AUSSIES IN FIELD
This have to be severely demoralising for the Aussies.
Jonny Bairstow had made the entire runs in a 19-run stand with Jimmy Anderson earlier than the hometown hero slapped Pat Cummins for a boundary.
It’s fairly clear England has no intention of batting once more on this recreation and if this partnership drags on for much longer, it won’t should.
The lead is already 232.
11.07PM: HAZLEWOOD TAKES FIVE
Stuart Broad tries to hit Josh Hazlewood into the following suburb of Manchester however solely succeeds in hitting him straight into the air.
Hazlewood calls the fielders out and takes the catch himself, snaring his fifth wicket of the English innings.
England is 9-526 with a 209-run lead and…James Anderson is in!
“A much better day with the ball for the Aussies, haven’t just allowed England to have their way with the day,” says Callum Ferguson on Channel 9.
10.53PM: THE COVERS ARE OFF
Play is underway once more and England remains to be batting on. The first ball is 4 byes courtesy of a wild supply from Mitch Starc which Alex Carey had no likelihood with.
10.42PM: THE COVERS ARE ON
Well, that didn’t final lengthy.
Three balls into the second session, the covers are on because the rain intensifies.
“Looking at the radar, it is just one short heavy shower, but it is heavy. I don’t think we’re going to have that long a delay. It may just force England’s hand,” says Nasser Hussain in commentary.
10.40PM: SECOND SESSION UNDERWAY
England is right here for a very good time, not a very long time.
Nasser Hussain says James Anderson gained’t be batting and Mark Taylor provides: “There is a few little showers around. That might be why England kept batting. They have a lead of 189, but as we said a number of times, with the forecast for particularly tomorrow and Sunday, I don’t think England will be batting very long.”
10.25PM: COVERS ON AS SHOWER HITS AT LUNCH
The hover cowl is on at lunch after rain hit Manchester.
Hopefully it passes over rapidly (or possibly not if you’d like the draw).
I get pleasure from running a blog the cricket, so I’m going to barrack for extra play.
LUNCH, DAY THREE: ENGLAND 8-506
Josh Hazlewood castles Mark Wood and that’ll do for the primary session of day three.
Despite some thought England had declared, it seems Ben Stokes’ facet is contemplating batting on into the second session.
The lead is at the moment 189 runs.
Plus, right here’s a stat England cricket followers will get pleasure from studying.
After attending to 50 once more in the present day, Harry Brook took much less innings to make 10 check half-centuries than Don Bradman!
He’s protecting some honest firm right here…
9.44PM: WOAKES CAUGHT BEHIND
Why didn’t Australia take the brand new ball sooner?
Chris Woakes pokes at a ball outdoors off stump and Josh Hazlewood has one other wicket.
No signal but of a declaration (possibly it’s coming at lunch).
Mark Wood will be part of Jonny Bairstow within the center with the lead at 169 runs.
9.36PM: BROOK CAUGHT IN DEEP
Harry Brook advances to Josh Hazlewood and tries to bludgeon him throughout the road, solely to sky a ball to Mitch Starc at deep superb leg.
He hangs round for a couple of minutes because the umpires test whether or not Starc was contained in the boundary however he’s judged it nicely, catching the ball just a few centimetres contained in the rope.
England is 6-474 and appears decided to get as massive a first-innings lead as doable.
9.35PM: WOULD AUSSIES SETTLE FOR A DRAW?
Australia’s finest outcome seems to be a draw from right here, barring a miracle within the second innings and almighty England collapse on day 4 or 5.
Assistant coach Daniel Vettori wasn’t shopping for into discuss that Australia may play for a draw to take a 2-1 result in The Oval, telling reporters after play yesterday:
“It all leads to batting exceptionally well in the third innings,” Vettori mentioned.
“That’s what will set up the rest of the game as well as how we bowl (on day three).
“It’ll be about the performance rather than the result and I know that’s easy to say, but we won’t have a chance to have a say on the result unless we do this next day well.
“That’ll be the key messaging from Andrew and Patty going forward that we have to do the third day well to give us a chance in the fourth and fifth days, if there is play or if it’s weather influenced.”
Meanwhile, after 90 overs, Australia has taken the brand new ball.
9.20PM: MARSH BACK ON FIELD, RAIN FALLING
Mitch Marsh has appeared for the primary time in the present day in an encouraging signal for Australia.
But maybe extra encouraging (not that we’d pray for rain) is that just a few drops have began to fall at Old Trafford.
Mark Taylor says it’s only a passing bathe although and the gamers are staying on the market.
9.15PM: PONTING’S CUMMINS QUESTION MARK
Ricky Ponting has publicly requested the query most of Australia was left pondering after yesterday’s play — is Pat Cummins taking over an excessive amount of?
Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Scott Boland have missed Tests on the UK tour, however Cummins has led Australia in 5 straight matches — together with the World Test Championship last.
Ponting mentioned on commentary he wonders whether or not Cummins has turn into “physically and mentally worn out?”
Cummins has 1-105 off 20 overs in Manchester and his discipline placements have been known as into query yesterday by former gamers together with Mark Waugh.
“I think the great concern for Australia coming here is they had the World Test Championship, they had Cummins, comes off three months with no cricket…were they going to get him through the eight weeks,” Ponting mentioned.
9.07PM: HARRY BROOK REACHES 50
Another half-century for England’s No.5, hitting 4 boundaries and taking 80 balls to achieve the milestone.
The lead is 136.
9PM: DRINKS, ENGLAND 5-447
It’s now only a matter of how lengthy England needs to bat earlier than having a crack at Australia.
The hosts lead by 130 however with tomorrow’s forecast trying horrid and day 5 not significantly better, Ben Stokes will know a declaration is more likely to be wanted.
That is except Australia can seize a few fast wickets after the brief drinks break.
8.52PM: STOKES DRAGS ON, ENGLAND 5-437
Just minutes after we are saying Ben Stokes has appeared untroubled in the present day, he drags his opposing skipper onto the stumps and is bowled for 51.
England is 5-437, main by 120 runs.
“That is the best way to slow the run rate down, take wickets, get new batters to the crease. Stokes was looking good too,” says Callum Ferguson on Channel 9.
8.50PM: BEN STOKES REACHES 50, MARSH OFF FIELD
It took 72 balls for Ben Stokes to deliver up his half-century.
Talk about pedestrian.
In all seriousness, the England skipper is batting very nicely and hasn’t appeared like getting out within the first hour in the present day — other than Alex Carey’s run out likelihood.
Meanwhile, the phrase from our man in Manchester Daniel Cherny is Mitch Marsh is sore from yesterday, however Australia expects him to take the sector on day three.
Michael Neser has been fielding in his place up to now.
8.45PM: AUSTRALIA’S BOWLERS LOOK ‘WEARY’ — MCGAIN
A former Test spinner fears Australia’s “weary” bowlers have been uncovered by England’s cruel push for an enormous first-innings lead in Manchester.
Bryce McGain instructed SEN earlier than day three that Australia’s short-ball plan didn’t have the identical influence it had in previous innings.
McGain mentioned captain Pat Cummins, specifically, appeared “exhausted” from making an attempt to include England’s onslaught.
“Our bowlers looked a little bit tired,” he mentioned.
“They weren’t as quick as what they’d been in previous Tests and they’re looking a bit weary.
“Pat Cummins from the top is certainly looking a bit tired and worn out. Not only I think with his bowling, he was nearly going for a run a ball…no maidens in there at all.
“The inability for Australia to build pressure, I guess that’s the different part of how we’re getting dictated terms to at the moment.
“We’re trying to find a way, but it didn’t work last night at all. I think Pat is pretty exhausted also from thinking his way through and solving all these problems that England are chucking at him.”
And it hasn’t been any higher on day three, though the brand new ball isn’t distant.
Australia badly wants that to make inroads.
8.30PM: ENGLAND LEAD ECLIPSES 100
Harry Brook switches modes, hitting Mitch Starc for successive boundaries to push England’s lead into triple figures.
The England No.5 then guides the final ball of the over for 4 as nicely and England has placed on 38 runs within the first six overs in the present day with out taking many dangers.
8.15PM: ANOTHER MISSED RUN OUT
Pat Cummins would have had Harry Brook greater than a metre out of his floor however misses the stumps in one other blown alternative for the Aussies early on day three.
Brook had given up on any hope of getting again after which needed to scamper to make his floor when Mitch Starc caught the ball after Cummins missed.
8.10PM STOKES MAKES INTENT CLEAR, CAREY BLOWS RUN OUT
Second ball of Mitch Starc’s first over of the day, Ben Stokes backs away and slaps the Aussie fast via mid-wicket for 4.
England has placed on 13 runs within the first two overs with out making an attempt something too audacious and leads by 80 runs.
Meanwhile, Alex Carey — who has been so dependable all through the Ashes — has missed an opportunity to expire the England skipper.
Carey dropped sub fielder Michael Neser’s low throw and replays confirmed he would have caught Stokes in need of his floor had he collected the ball.
Not perfect…
7.55PM: PONTING — AUSTRALIA ‘CAUGHT IN HEADLIGHTS’
Ricky Ponting has given a damning evaluation of Australia’s panic within the discipline on day two as England powered to a first-innings lead in Manchester.
“The pressure got to them, there’s no doubt about it,” Ponting mentioned on Sky Sports.
“This team has probably not been put under that sort of pressure ever. Pat, as a captain, has never been put under that sort of pressure.
He added: “I think they just got caught in the headlights a little bit.
“I think there’s about an hour of yesterday they would have liked to have back.”
Ponting additionally mentioned how he expects England to method its batting in the present day:
“Because they played so well yesterday they’ve now got a number of options of what they can and might do,” he mentioned.
“What they could do is go out early this morning, show the same intent as they did yesterday, get another 70, 80, 100 runs and then pull the pin.
“Or, and it might depend on what’s happening with the weather. I think the best time to bowl is going to be with some cloud cover around.
“They might go off that. If this hangs around, they might bat for a shorter period of time. If it blows away and it’s nice weather and the sun comes out, they might think about batting longer, getting 200, 250-plus and then try and bowl Australia out.”
Ponting mentioned England ought to intention for a lead of about 150 runs.
7.35PM: HUSSAIN URGES ‘ULTRA AGGRESSION’ FROM ENGLAND
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain says England can’t die questioning because it tries to sq. the Ashes collection at 2-2 in Manchester.
England begins day three in a commanding place, main by 67 runs with six wickets in hand.
There was discuss yesterday of Bazball going into “fast forward” and Hussain mentioned England should get “really ultra aggressive” with unhealthy climate looming.
“Either way – if they get bowled out, the game has progressed. You don’t want to be left on Sunday night thinking: ‘I wish we’d just given ourselves another half hour’,” Hussain mentioned on Sky Sports.
“And if they don’t get bowled out, you can imagine them going at seven or eight runs an over, and then their lead will be massive, which will by them time for the weather.
“The forecast is poor. Everyone is going to say, ‘Why do you keep going on about the forecast?’ But it is poor. Really bad for Saturday, not great for Sunday.
“If you’ve got a ticket for (Friday) morning, get there for 11am, because Stokes, Brook, Bairstow, Woakes, Wood, go and have some fun, get the lead up to 200, and then get on with bowling. You need 20 wickets, get on with bowling.”
7.15PM: AUSSIES RULE ON STARC INJURY CONCERN
Daniel Cherny in Manchester
Mitchell Starc is predicted to be obtainable to bowl on day three of the fourth Test regardless of hurting his left shoulder on Thursday.
Starc left the sector in discomfort after touchdown awkwardly within the discipline late on day two.
However Cricket Australia mentioned that he had not been despatched for scans, and on Friday morning mentioned that Starc had been cleared by staff medicos to bowl within the the rest of the match.
Starc was the choose of the Aussie assault on a brutal day during which England reached 4-384 in response to the vacationers’ 317.
7PM: ‘MONTH WORTH OF RAIN’ TIPPED FOR PARTS OF UK
Local media is reporting near a month value of rain may hit Manchester on day 4 and 5 of the fourth Test, placing England’s bid to sq. the collection in jeopardy.
The Manchester Evening News studies as much as 60mm of rain is predicted in some components of the UK on the weekend, which may embrace northern England.
But the nice news is the covers have been being eliminated about an hour earlier than the scheduled begin of day three and it appears like we’ll get the morning session away.
CRASH: AUSTRALIA SHOULD REGRET POKING THE BAIR-STOW
Robert Craddock
Was poking the Bairstow actually well worth the trouble?
The debate over the spirit verses the legal guidelines of cricket grew to become so intense and self-righteous following Jonny Bairstow’s stumping at Lord’s that everybody forgot to say that the choice in itself would finally imply nothing in comparison with the emotionally sapping fallout which might observe it.
Australia have simply had 9 days off but they appeared like a drained staff on day one and two at Old Trafford and Pat Cummins’ confused state embodied that of his staff.
Michael Vaughan talked about on radio that maybe the Bairstow choice, when he was stumped not making an attempt a run at Lord’s, might have taken extra out of Cummins than he realised.
The fallout has been intense and collection shaping.
English skipper Ben Stokes batted like a firecracker within the rapid aftermath of the controversial name, English crowds got here alive and have stayed that manner ever since, and Australia have needed to face a firestorm which was merely inevitable.
At Edgbaston within the first Test, Australia performed so nicely they silenced the group. Now the locals are celebrating each Australian error with gusto.
Had Bairstow been stumped within the fifth Test of the collection Australia would have laughed of their aircraft seats all the way in which house, leaving indignant England followers to speak amongst themselves.
The bother was it got here within the second Test and there have been three extra to observe.
Australia have gotten victims of what in India is called the Virat Kohli syndrome.
One of the the explanation why India have been nigh unbeatable at house over the previous decade is that Kohli, when captain, used to discover a method to fireplace up himself and his staff and it merely overwhelmed opponents who discovered it as chastening as going through a State of Origin rugby league crowd at an away venue not merely for 2 hours however 5 days in a row.
Back in 2017 Australia have been making spectacular progress in the direction of profitable a collection in India after they gained a Test in Pune.
But the collection erupted within the subsequent Test when Kohli accused Steve Smith of unscrupulous conduct by trying on the dressing room for steerage earlier than making DRS referrals. Crowds grew to become fanatical, Kohli became a sabre-waving, morally outraged gladiator and Australia have been melted by the fierce flame of all of it. India gained the collection.
The secret to beating good groups on their patch shouldn’t be creating undue bother for your self.
Australia willingly challenged that and should now stay with the fallout.
THE MISSING LINK
This Test collection has proved Nathan Lyon is probably the most irreplaceable cricketer in Australia.
Since Lyon went down with a hamstring pressure in his one hundredth consecutive Test Australia haven’t appeared the identical.
Players’ reputations typically develop when they’re out.
Todd Murphy’s has grown in his absence this Test. The fact is he may nicely have been swept away by BazBall.
But Lyon’s expertise suggests he would have discovered a manner via.
Australia is lacking him each step of the way in which.
THE MISSING GEAR
BazBall has discovered a harmful gear and it’s not the one which makes tyres screech and rubber burn.
It’s not fifth gear. It’s second gear. And that may be a fear for Australia.
England’s prime order shook spectators from their seats at Old Trafford with 178 runs off 25 overs between lunch and tea.
But virtually as vital was the groundwork laid within the session earlier than it.
England have been 1-61 off 16 overs at lunch with Zac Crawley 18 and Moeen Ali 31.
There was a tangible really feel that, whereas at all times looking out to attain, they have been making an attempt to supply a platform earlier than the bazooka blitz after the break.
England is extra harmful after they assume this fashion.
Originally printed as Ashes cricket 2023: Australia v England fourth Test scorecard, day three protection
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
