Australia is beginning to dream of a miracle escape at The Oval after dominating England in a rain-shortened day 4 within the Fifth Test.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner mixed for the primary century opening stand of the sequence earlier than the London climate introduced an early finish to play halfway by the second session with Australia 0/135.
Khawaja is 69 not out, having handed Zak Crawley because the main run scorer within the sequence, whereas Warner is 58 not out and effectively on his method to a career-saving century.
The guests shall be thrilled with their efforts after being set a chase of 384 runs on a day that was being seen as a victory lap for England and retiring hero Stuart Broad.
In touching scenes to begin the day, Australia set a guard of honour for its Ashes nemesis, who hit his last ball as a batsman in Test cricket for six earlier than England’s innings ended.
But expectations of the hosts operating by the Aussie order have been shortly shelved as Khawaja and Warner went about their work.
They may not have scored on the similar blistering charge as their English counterparts however you couldn’t doubt the effectiveness because the pitch provided little encouragement to the bowlers.
The 100-plus overs Australia pressured England to bowl within the first innings immediately appeared extremely vital as Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes did not have a lot affect.
England additionally shocked by not calling on Mark Wood till the thirty third over, by which period Joe Root had already despatched down seven overs of off-spin.
But when Wood was lastly launched an unsightly fact about this Ashes sequence was uncovered.
It’s barely been spoken about however there’s been a Bodyline factor not like any we’ve seen at Test stage in many years.
Khawaja was the newest sufferer when he was clattered on the top by a Wood bouncer after taking his eye off the ball.
The blow prompted a prolonged delay as Khawaja took a concussion check and examined his tools.
Khawaja was tremendous to proceed his spectacular innings, however CricViz adopted the incident by revealing simply how a lot the physique and head has been focused on this sequence.
That’s largely all the way down to the historic variety of bouncers which were despatched down as each groups deployed a short-ball technique at occasions – and we’re fortunate it’s not resulted in any worse than just a few bruised batsmen.
“Just look at the red mark on the back of that helmet,’ Ricky Ponting said after Khawaja went down.
“It’s compulsory for England players to wear the stem guards on the back of their helmets. You see both these Australian openers here, neither of them have those guards on the back. And this hasn’t gone far away from sneaking underneath.”
Another unsavoury second between the Australian gamers and the English crowd was additionally revealed, as footage of Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne clashing with an outspoken fan emerged.
But all in all this was certainly one of Australia’s greatest days of the sequence and immediately leaves the guests in place to drag off a sequence win, both by chasing the runs on day 5 to make it 3-1 or seeing one other day of rain maintain it 2-1.
A draw on this match would arguably assist the Aussies reclaim a number of the ethical excessive floor misplaced throughout the Fourth Test, the place England was denied an opportunity to press for a series-tying win from a dominant place.
Australia doesn’t fairly have the identical stranglehold on this match, however with 249 runs to get with 10 wickets in hand it’s near having the upperhand.
2am – Play deserted
The floor workers would wish no less than 90 minutes to organize the bottom for play so the day has been referred to as off. It’s nonetheless raining anyway.
1.05am – It’s teeming down in London
The rain is basically heavy now as the possibility of seeing any additional play right this moment principally ends.
12.10am – Forecast means that’s it for day 4
It’s most likely time to go to mattress in the event you’re watching on from Australia.
11.10pm – Warner saving profession as opening stand grows
A serious subplot of this innings is the magic quantity David Warner wants to make sure his choice for the upcoming dwelling summer season.
Warner started this innings averaging about 25 within the sequence and with an axe hanging over his head.
But it could be extraordinary for Australia to drop a participant coming off a century – and the lefthander is midway there because the guests’ tremendous begin to their second innings continues.
Warner reached his 50 within the thirty fifth over as Australia moved to 0/113.
Usman Khawaja is enjoying effectively too, posting his fourth half century of the sequence to go Zak Crawley as the best run scorer within the sequence.
It’s Australia’s first century opening stand in England since 2015 and the most important from any facet on this sequence.
England lastly launched Mark Wood within the thirty third over after part-time spinner Joe Root had already bowled seven overs.
10pm – Aussie openers make strong begin as Wood held again
There is an extended, lengthy method to go however David Warner and Usman Khawaja have made a powerful begin to the run chase, reaching lunch at 0/75.
Khawaja was 39 not out and Warner 30 not out on the break after 24 overs, having crushed their earlier highest opening stand of 73 within the Second Test.
“They’ll be happy the Australians, through that session unscathed,” Ricky Ponting mentioned in commentary. “Couldn’t have asked for much more.”
England pulled a little bit of a shock by handing the ball to spinners Moeen Ali and Joe Root fairly early within the innings, earlier than speedster Mark Wood.
But Mark Butcher has defined in commentary it’s possible a ploy to assist scuff up one facet of the ball so it would begin reverse-swinging.
8.12pm – Anderson final man out, Aussies set mammoth goal
It took a few overs and Stuart Broad whacked a six, however England have been lastly all out for 395 of their second innings when Todd Murphy dismissed Jimmy Anderson lbw for eight.
Murphy completed with 4/110 and 6 wickets for the match in a strong return.
Australia might want to chase down a mammoth complete of 384 to assert an unlikely victory to win the Ashes sequence outright.
Broad raced off the sphere to get learn to bowl, and can little question benefit from the truth he was unbeaten in his final ever Test innings. The last ball he confronted was hit for six.
7.55pm – Broad given guard of honour
After saying his retirement from Test cricket on Day 3, Stuart Broad was given a guard of honour by the Australian staff when he and Jimmy Anderson got here out to bat on Day 4.
It’s a cultured act by the Aussies after Broad tormented them so many occasions all through his profession, wherein he has claimed 600 Test wickets.
Source: www.news.com.au
