ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Fourth Ashes Test, Old Trafford, Day Three on Friday.
SCORE: Australia (317 and 4-113) want 162 runs to make England (592) bat once more.
SUMMARY: Only rain can now deny England. Already beginning the day in a commanding place, the hosts opted to go huge with the purpose of solely having to bat as soon as on this Test match. Ben Stokes and Harry Brooks each went alongside at a cushty fee within the morning session, earlier than Jonny Bairstow exploded. While wickets fell round him, the England wicketkeeper smashed 99 from 81 balls as he hit Australia’s quicks to the legside boundary at will. He was left stranded one in need of a century when No.11 James Anderson fell lbw to Cameron Green, however by that time England’s first-innings lead was 275. Then got here the ferocity of Mark Wood. He had Usman Khawaja caught behind for 18, Steve Smith hooking on 17 and Travis Head heading off a bouncer for one. David Warner additionally chopped on to Chris Woakes on 28, because the wicket left Australia on the point of blowing their 2-0 lead.
PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Jonny Bairstow. His innings took England’s lead from one to a very dominant one. He hit 10 fours and launched 4 sixes over the legside boundary in his knock, and helped add 66 for the ultimate wicket with James Anderson. For a person beneath stress to carry out within the construct as much as this Test, Bairstow has had his finest match of the sequence.
KEY MOMENT: Mark Wood’s bouncer to do away with Steve Smith. Australia’s finest batsmen tried to get inside it and hook him right down to tremendous leg, however he solely succeeded in brushing it by means of to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. With that, Australia’s hopes of holding on for a draw took a major hit.
STAT OF THE DAY: Six of England’s high seven batsmen handed 50 of their first innings, after Australia’s batsmen did not make use of their begins on day one.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’d be great to lose a few overs here and there and make our job a little easier of hanging in there. That’s pretty obvious.” – Josh Hazlewood, suggesting Australia could spend Friday evening studying rain dances in Manchester.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
