England are staring down the barrel of an Ashes series loss following another chastening day at Old Trafford that leaves them on the edge of defeat heading into the fifth and last day…
Pat Cummins took two wickets in two balls to depart Australia needing eight wickets retain the Ashes following the following notable knock out of Steve Smith at Old Trafford and to win the Test, writes Sam Drury.
SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED
The world # 1 Test batsman created 82 before holing out off Jack Leach since the people declared on 186-6 to set a victory target of 383 to Joe Root’s side.
Cummins then eliminated Root in the first and Rory Burns over as England’s chances of saving the match plummeted with the hosts closing on 18-2.
First ball bowled by Pat Cummins, into the absolute perfect delivery, angling in, projecting in lineup and nipping away to clip the top of off-stump.
England’s hopes of carrying out for a draw to conserve the Exam and take the series into 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 their two top-scorers from the very first innings to successive deliveries.
Before cleaning Root up together with the second, Rory Burns chunk was first removed by cummins into a top edge. He’s the world’s # 1 Test bowler for a motive.
The one that has mastered the series so much: how do you get out Steve Smith? Following five innings, 671 runs, a 134.20 typical, five scores of fifty, three of which countless, England are still very much none the wiser.
After an excellent hour and a half of the ball at the back end of the afternoon session, one which saw the hosts temporarily battle their way back in the Exam – reducing Australia into 44-4 in their second innings – Smith nevertheless wasn’t able to be altered.
Stuart Broad bowled another amazing opening attraction, while Jofra Archer was back to bowling in blistering pace however, bar the strange play and overlook, Smith lived through to tea and then rocketed through the gears at the day before perishing 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 type of delivery which is! Australia and also pat Cummins absolutely at their best. We talk so often, players discuss it, coaches speak about it. It’s the perfect delivery; goal for the very best of off, hit the top off, with just enough movement to beat the bat – that the complete ideal for any bowler, and a body blow to the whole England team.“
Nasser Hussain about England’s day fightback:“You find the personality of a side when they’re down, and that hour and a half [earlier java ], England showed that. They had been done and dustedout of the match, with one result possible and they fought their way in. Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad, in particular, were Superb.“
Michael Holding to a legside strategy to Smith:“Six guys on the on-side bowling to Smith? You are just allowed nine fielders and should is on top of off-stump, you would need to have a slide and a third man, leaving you only 1 man to patrol the area from point to mid-off. He’d better be Usain Bolt to be able to cover that area, but also a marathon runner to have enough energy to do so. That’s why I say foolish.“
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