The Ashes: Australia vs England third Test - Day 5 cricket live scores, updates

17th December, 2013

A fighting England middle-order pushed the WACA Test into the final day but it should be a matter of time before Australia wrap up the series and win back the urn in this third Test match. Join us for live scores and commentary 1.30pm AEDT.

That is not to say that England do not have a very outside chance and it’s probably more than what they did at the start of the fourth day.

Chasing down an inevitable target of more than 500 runs is a lot more difficult than starting a day needing 250 runs, even if there are only four – possibly five – wickets in hand.

The probability still remains minuscule though, given Matt Prior’s poor form and the lower-order ineptitude against the Australian quick bowlers.

It would have been heartening for some to watch the manner in Ben Stokes fought on the fourth day. To a lesser extent, so did Michael Carberry and Ian Bell, but the old problems of getting starts and getting out remained for the visitors.

Stokes batted quite beautifully on a track that hasn’t been the most beautiful to look on, or to bat.

The cracks widened on day four and that process is going to be no different on the final day of the Test either, making his task of survival even more difficult.

And yet, the number six all-rounder helped himself to an unbeaten 72, which puts him on the cusp of becoming the first Englishman to score a century in this series.

Not too many would have anticipated that at the start of the series.

The Australian bowlers did look a tad exhausted towards the end of the day’s play, which was also the period of play where England scored at their best rate.

But with a night’s rest under their belt and a new ball around an hour away, they will be fairly confident of running through the rest of the batting.

I did speak of the outside chance that England have but to really put the jitters in the opposition camp they need their overnight pair to add at least a 100 more runs.

Rest assured Prior will go for his shots – like he did in Adelaide – and if some of those come off and the bowlers begin to lose their directions and the marginal decisions and half-chances start going England’s way, they may be able to get close.

Or else it could get all over very quickly. And the odds of that happening are way shorter.

England had lasted all of 11.4 overs on the final day of the Adelaide Test match, having begun the day six wickets down.

Broad’s injury puts them in a very similar scenario here and I trust the Australian bowlers to take not too much longer than that to win the Test.

And with it, their first Ashes series in six years!

Join us for the fifth day on Monday and you can follow the live score of this third Ashes between Australia and England from 1.30pm AEDT and post your comments below.

The Crowd Says:

2013-12-17T12:57:38+00:00

Zee

Roar Guru

Here Here, he has just rejuvinated everything to do with Australian Cricket. He bought the best out of everyone, and this victory is to him much as it is to the boys, and the rest of Australia.

2013-12-17T10:37:12+00:00

Rob Barrow

Guest

I am having a pary tomorrow to celeberate this win, amazing work. . Full credit to boof lehman for brining the best out of our players, and shows that the decision to bring him as coach was the best decision we made.

2013-12-17T10:28:54+00:00

Manoj

Guest

Great win and fantastic effort boys. Full credit to boof lehman for brining the best out of our players, and shows that the decision to bring him as coach was the best decision we made.

2013-12-17T09:22:30+00:00

Zee

Roar Guru

WE DID WE DID WE DID Ahh this is a very special day, cannot wipe the smile off my face. What a great bunch of boys, :D

2013-12-17T09:03:34+00:00

mocka

Guest

Yeh,but will never bat as well as one of our best aussie openers,Keppler Wessels !

2013-12-17T08:29:43+00:00

Magic Sponge

Guest

Yeah did not realise how old this side is until yesterday at the Wacca. The golden oldies well done. The WACA is a 70s archaic by product, built on scaffolding they need to bulldoze it.

2013-12-17T08:13:59+00:00

AlanKC

Guest

Mick was one of the better men in Bob Hawke's cabinet. Passed away a few years ago but I reckon he had a decent time watching this series so far.

2013-12-17T08:07:21+00:00

AlanKC

Guest

Hmmm, Cook's captaincy has been a joint effort, maybe this loss will give him the cajones to tell the rest of the "in crowd" to p off and let him make the calls. If he doesn't do that he's toast and rightly so.

2013-12-17T08:04:25+00:00

AlanKC

Guest

Yes we did -what a day!

2013-12-17T07:48:00+00:00

Johnno

Guest

Jacob Oram

2013-12-17T07:14:35+00:00

Minz

Guest

It could probably use the moisture!