England are pushing in the direction of a victory at Headingley that may preserve them within the Ashes, going to lunch at 4-153 in pursuit of 251 for victory within the third Test.
After the hosts resumed at 0-27, Mitchell Starc took two wickets within the opening session whereas Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins took one every to maintain Australia within the contest.
But with Ben Stokes on the crease and Harry Brook in management, Australia might want to conjure their very own miracle of Headingley to win the match and take an unassailable 3-0 lead within the collection.
With this looming as essentially the most essential day of the Ashes up to now, England navigated the primary 4 overs safely earlier than Starc trapped Ben Duckett lbw for 23.
Duckett reviewed, however ball-tracking confirmed Starc’s wobble-seam supply would have cannoned into leg stump.
Moeen Ali was promoted to No.3 however lasted solely 15 balls, clean-bowled by Starc (2-44) for 5.
And when Zak Crawley was caught behind attempting to cover-drive a size ball off Marsh on 44, England had been 3-93 and the sport appeared within the steadiness.
The hosts threatened to take management once more earlier than Joe Root was caught down the leg aspect attempting to drag Cummins quickly earlier than lunch, to make it 4-131.
Root by no means really regarded himself in his 21, wafting at a large ball exterior off stump from Starc on the primary supply he confronted and later edging Scott Boland in entrance of the slips.
But nonetheless, Brook has ensured the sport is England’s to lose with 98 extra runs wanted to win.
The right-hander has cover-driven fantastically in his unbeaten 40 and has taken a specific liking to Boland when the Victorian pitched too full.
He additionally has Stokes beside him on seven, the person who famously hit England to a one-wicket win over Australia on the identical floor 4 years in the past.
That victory stored England within the 2019 Ashes, and a win right here will do likewise because the hosts try to cut back their collection deficit to 2-1 with two Tests to play.
Notably, skipper Cummins solely turned to 22-year-old offspinner Todd Murphy for the final over earlier than lunch, with Australia enjoying their first Test with out Nathan Lyon since 2013.
Also of observe is that Cameron Green has frolicked on the sector as a sub fielder and was bowling in in the present day’s warm-up, after he was dominated out of the Test with a minor hamstring damage.
Australian officers hope to have the allrounder accessible for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which is able to probably create a variety headache after Marsh’s first-innings century at Headingley.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
