England are staring down the barrel of an Ashes series loss after a second chastening afternoon at Old Trafford that renders them on the verge of defeat heading into the fifth and last day…
Pat Cummins took two wickets in two balls to depart Australia needing eight wickets keep the Ashes following a second remarkable knock out of Steve Smith in Old Trafford and to win the fourth Test, writes Sam Drury.
SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED
The world # 1 Test batsman made 82 announced on 186-6 to put the side of Joe Root a victory target of 383.
Cummins eliminated Rory Burns and Root in the first over as England’s chances of saving the game plummeted in the closing stages of the eventful afternoon in Manchester, with the hosts closing on 18-2.
Joe Root bowled first ball into the absolute shipping, by Pat Cummins, nipping off to just clip the top of off-stump, projecting in line and angling in.
England’s hopes of holding out for a draw to save the Exam and choose the string to a decider at The Oval next week certainly rested with their skipper however, put in to confront a catchy half-hour session before stumps, the hosts lost both top-scorers in the first innings to successive deliveries.
Before cleaning Root up together with the next cummins first removed Rory Burns third chunk to a leading edge. He’s the world’s # 1 Exam bowler for a motive.
The exact same one who has dominated the show so far do you buy Steve Smith out? Following five innings, 671 runs, a 134.20 average, five dozens of fifty, three of that countless, England are still very much not one the wiser.
After a terrific hour and a half of the ball at the rear end of the afternoon session, one that saw the hosts briefly battle their way back into the Test – reducing Australia into 44-4 in their second innings – Smith still were not able to be shifted.
Stuart Broad bowled another amazing opening spell, although Jofra Archer was back into bowling at blistering pace however, bar the strange play and miss, Smith survived through to tea after which rocketed through the gears in the day before dying for 82, holing out in the deep off Jack Leach, in helping set up Australia’s declaration.
David Gower on Root’s dismissal:“Oh, my word, what kind of shipping which is! Australia and also pat Cummins certainly in their finest. We talk about it players talk about it, coaches talk about it. It is the ideal delivery; goal for the very best off, hit the top of off, with only enough motion to win against the bat – the complete ideal for any bowler, and a body blow to the whole England team“
Nasser Hussain on England’s day fightback:“You see the character of a negative when they are down, and that hour and a half [before tea], England showed that. They were done and dustedout of the match, with 1 outcome possible and they fought their way back in. Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad, in particular, were Fantastic.“
Michael Holding on a legside strategy to Smith:“Six guys about the on-side bowling to Smith? You are only allowed nine fielders and if is top of off-stump, you’d need to have a slide and a person, leaving you 1 man to patrol the whole area from point to mid-off. He’d better be Usain Bolt but also a marathon runner to get sufficient power to do so. That’s why I say foolish.“
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