Day 4 of the second Ashes Test could prove critical as England desperately fight to get back into the series and Australia aim to hammer another nail into the coffin. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEDT).
Australia is in the stronger position after three days, leading by 268 runs with six wickets remaining in their second innings and two days to build a lead before forcing the English to survive. With the form of their bowlers any lead above 300 is going to be a tough chase on a deteriorating pitch.
But thanks to an exciting final two hours yesterday, the tourists will feel they are still in with a chance.
Their bowlers took advantage of the conditions and a new pink ball under lights. It proved too much for the Australian top four with all of them back in the sheds and the scoreboard 4-53 at stumps.
If England can continue that bowling form today and take their chances, they could be looking at a low 300s total to chase down and the best part of five sessions to get them in.
Day 3 started with the tourists on 1 for 29 chasing down 442. The top order couldn’t get to grips with a strong Australian bowling performance and another six wickets fell as England limped to 7 for 142.
Just when it looked like Australia would cruise to victory, the England tail showed some grit. Craig Overton and Chris Woakes put on 66, with Overton ending up 41 not out on debut.
The big names of England’s batting line-up – Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow – could not stamp any authority on the Australian bowlers. Root was particularly poor and his nine runs is nowhere near what his team need from him.
It wasn’t just the bowling that impressed from the home side – the fielding was impressive and included two fantastic caught and bowled examples.
While the bowling was good, too many English batsmen caused their own downfall with poor shot selection and a lack of patience.
Steve Smith decided not to enforce the follow on, but things didn’t go to plan. In the final two hours of the day the tourists bowled fantastically. It was an exciting end and was the first real demonstration of how England could be a threat in this series.
Cameron Bancroft went first with just five on the scoreboard as James Anderson managed to find the edge. David Warner and Usman Khawaja started to get a partnership going but then Anderson struck again and had Khawaja leg before.
Anderson then thought he had the big scalp of Smith for a duck, only for be denied by the decision review system with the ball pitching outside leg. But Smith didn’t really get to trouble the scorers as Woakes picked up the big wickets of first Warner (caught at slip) and then the captain a few overs later LBW.
This late surge from England has added some spice to the match. Of course, Australia are massive favourites, but England will want to build on the momentum of these couple of hours and see if they can gain some confidence. Only one team has ever chased down a total larger than 300 at the Adelaide Oval – curiously it was actually England, but it was 115 years ago.
For the Australians, they will want to steady things a bit, add on as many as they can in the first session or two and then let their bowlers loose under the lights. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we see this game wrapped up by the end of Day 4 if England collapse
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the fourth day’s play from 2pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
TC123
Guest
he may have let England back in the series. It's obvious Smith was under stress yesterday and all to save his bowlers the huge task of having to bowl 26 overs before stumps on day 3. Still a lot of people sticking to their belief that it was the right decision when even the Aussie camp have admitted it was a poor call. Still not a 50/50 scenario but another 50 runs without a further wicket and it probably is. Cmon England
riddler
Guest
imagine a kaspa now.. he would walk into this team as 3rd strike bowler.. horrible fact of being an ozzie sportsman born between 68-75.. world class rugby/cricket/league/tennis
riddler
Guest
yes.. i agree.. i feel for handscomb.. but he is a walking wicket out there at the moment..
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Yep, there's really no other choice, one man getting monster runs and one that looks to be a walking wicket against the English. Maxwell must come in for Perth.
Bazmace
Guest
Hazlewood is no McGrath clone. He is more like a mini Paul Reiffel. Extremely overrated.
Alan
Guest
And shirty that things didn't go right eg. A catch dropped or a review gone wrong
Nudge
Guest
Who cares. Woakes and Overton made batting look easy before they were bowled out. The problem for Smith is that Australia batted poorly. If England make the 350 to win my guess is they would have made 350 if Smith enforced the follow on. The wicket would have had 60 overs less bowled on it, the scoreboard pressure would have been less and the bowlers wouldn’t have had a break. And if our batters only make 140 on a day 4 wicket, it’s only going to be more difficult on a day 5 wicket especially with the extra scoreboard pressure. I’ve got no issue with the decision, more disappointed with how we have batted and the way Starc and Hazlewood have bowled this innings. And the dumb referral of Malan’s LBW. Australia still red hot favourites to win.
Alan
Guest
Hi there spruce, ?
13th Man
Guest
I'd be dropping Handscomb for Maxwell for the Perth test.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
DAY 4 Report Day 4 of the second Ashes test at the Adelaide Oval has been a truly great day of test cricket. While Australia are probably still favourites, they really have come a bit undone in the past day and a half and if England can sneak a win here then the series really is wide open. The day started with Australia 4-53 and needing to add runs to build a chase target that would make even the most optimistic English cricket fan quiver with dread. Instead none of their remaining batsmen could get set or build partnerships. From 4-53 the wickets just kept tumbling and they soon found themselves all out for 138. That score was terrible and the English bowlers had a lot to be proud of. In the evening session of Day 3 the ball had been moving around all over the place but in today’s first session conditions were much more batter friendly. However Anderson showed he’s still got some class and picked up his first five for in Australia and the 25th of his career. Woakes added two more wickets to his two from yesterday and Overton chipped in with the final wicket. England fielded well and took their chances to always keep the pressure on Australia. At times it wasn’t clear whether the Aussies were trying to just stick around or score runs but whatever the strategy neither worked. Luckily their big first innings lead meant that England were going to need 354 to win the test and level the series. Surely this was beyond a batting unit that had looked out of touch in their three previous Ashes innings on this tour. Again the cricket gods had some surprises in store. Cook and Stoneman started well and put on 53 before Cook went LBW to Lyon. Stoneman went one run later and it looked like we might even see the test wrapped up today. But then something strange happened – English batsmen showed true grit and patience. Their impulsive and poor shot selection was gone and instead players were keep to play the waiting game. Malan took this to the extreme and was scoring at an incredibly slow rate – he ended up with 29 from 80 balls – but he provided a great partner for Root who impressed with a lovely innings. Malan’s dismissal late on the day was a shame and only as a result of a stunning delivery from Cummins who beat the Englishman for pace and brought one back in through the gate to hit the stumps. Before that though Australia, and especially Steve Smith, had begun to go off the rails. Smith used two referrals in quick succession in an almost desperate attempt to get early wickets. Both were used wrongly and so Australia have to face most of the final innings with no ability to review decisions. Smith also dropped a catch in the slips and could be seen to lose his temper a number of times – perhaps already hearing the predictable questions from journos about whether he still thought not enforcing the follow on was the right decision. Cummins and Lyon were the pick of the Aussie attack. Almost every single ball from the spinner looked like it could take a wicket and Smith will be relying upon Lyon heavily on Day 5. Cummins didn’t always get the rewards his effort and quality deserved but he’ll keep working hard and he could easily rip through the English. At the close of play England were 4-176 and need another 177 runs to claim a historic victory. Root is still there and they have 6 wickets in hand overall. 177 runs, 6 wickets, Root playing well – crazier things have happened! As mentioned before, Australia are still in front but only just and if England can survive the first session on day 5 with adding maybe another 70 odd runs and losing just 1 wicket then things are going to get tense. It’s going to be a fantastic final day and both teams will feel that they are in the driving seat – but there can only be one winner. For the good of the series it should probably be England but based on the past two days they really deserve it as well.
Kangajets
Guest
Good to see jumping on the bandwagon swannies. Obviously you have ended your love affair with Richmond hawthorn and buddy and now love joe root
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
And the reason that England may win is he let them back in the game. Apparently his fast bowlers weren't even consulted about whether to enforce the follow on.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Starc and Hazlewood are so important in that first hour, there lines need to be spot on, both leaked too many runs today. Cummins and Lyon were very tidy and looked threatening with most balls. All four need to work as a unit and establish / maintain pressure from the get go. England have plenty of batting to come and in no rush to score. Smith needs to forget his poor day and lead well tomorrow.
Nudge
Guest
Smith's always like that in the field. It's one of his weak points as skipper. He's not cacking himself he made the wrong decision, he's just worried that England could win.
Fat Tony
Guest
Incredibly disappointing performance from Australia today. Lose 6 wickets for practically nothing then watch a talented, but flawed England batting line up show how it's done. Smith and Lehmann need to get back to the war room and stay up as late as necessary to fine tune their attack plans for tomorrow...they better be consulting their bowlers now! People are saying that if Root goes Australia has a chance and that's true but Ali, Overton and Bairstrow can bat and 178 is gettable. The things Australia has going for it is: 1) 5th day pitch in Adelaide, a nightmare pitch for batters in most occasions. 2) Lyon, he always looked dangerous, even tonight he looked like taking a wicket in nearly every over he bowled 3) Pressure: both sides don't handle it well, if England lose an early wicket tomorrow then a batting collapse, say 3-4 wickets for 30 runs, is on the cards.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Check Smith out in the field. He is totally frustrated and cacking himself that he made the wrong decision. His bowlers may yet bail him out but the fact remains he had England on the canvass and let them get back up. A ruthless captain would have stuck the foot on the throat.
JimmyB
Guest
He's utterly dreadful.
JimmyB
Guest
Tom, Australia were known for having some of the worst 'homer' umps the game has ever known.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Huge last day coming up, England have really dug in and give themselves a shot to win. Root obviously is the key but plenty of batting to come. Cummins and Lyon were great however Starc and Hazo leaked too many, both need to be on the money tomorrow. This is anyone’s game.
Swannies
Guest
An England win tomorrow will set up a great series. Root will get a huge confidence lift if he goes on to make a century. Aussies thought they were coasting along but are in for a fight.