Steve Smith wasted both reviews and dropped a catch as Joe Root gave England hope of pulling off a record run-chase of 354 in the pink-ball Ashes Test, piloting his side to 4-176 at stumps on day four at Adelaide Oval.
England require a further 178 runs to level the five-Test series. History suggests it won’t happen but Root’s composed knock of 67 not out has added great intrigue to a contest laden with spite and Decision Review System (DRS) drama.
Root was trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon on 32 but successfully reviewed and will resume alongside nightwatchman Chris Woakes.
Australia’s 6-315 against England in 1902 remains the highest fourth-innings total in a successful Test run-chase at Adelaide Oval, while England have never chased down more than 332 to win a Test.
The frustration and desperation of Smith, who opted against enforcing the follow-on after claiming a first-innings lead of 215 runs on day three, regularly bubbled to the surface on a nerve-jangling night.
Tensions also spilled over.
Umpire Aleem Dar stormed in from square leg to calm proceedings after a particularly heated episode in the 58th over, during which Root angrily pointed his bat at one of the Australians behind the wicket.
Aleem spoke with Tim Paine at length after the incident.
Smith blew Australia’s two reviews in the space of three deliveries in the post-dinner session, referring a caught-behind appeal when Root was on 37 then an lbw shout when Dawid Malan was on three.
A recent rule change means the count will not reset after 80 overs.
Smith was also angry with himself for grassing a one-handed slips catch, flinging the ball along the ground after offering Malan a reprieve on eight.
“There’s a lot of pressure on Steve Smith’s face. He’s getting edgy … he is under the pump,” Kevin Pietersen observed in the Nine Network commentary box.
Malan fell victim to a sensational delivery from Pat Cummins that kissed the top of off stump with a tick over 10 minutes remaining in the day’s play.
Lyon bowled superbly, created the chance that Smith dropped and snapped a 53-run opening stand when he removed former captain Alastair Cook with the help of the DRS.
Mitchell Starc dismissed Mark Stoneman and James Vince either side of dinner but, bowling at night with an old ball, couldn’t recreate Jimmy Anderson’s day-three masterclass.
Anderson finished with figures of 5-43 from 22 overs, with his maiden five-wicket haul in Australia helping roll Smith’s side for 138 in their second innings.
Big Daddy
Guest
Can anyone tell us when the follow on was enforced. Not too many times. It's in the interest of CA to extend the playing days as much as possible. It's not about cricket but getting attendances up selling more p??s
Birdman
Guest
Gee, there was a bit of bed wetting going on after last night - not sure why when IMO the Poms were always likely to fall short of the runs required.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
After I posted this I thought I should have put ' to a lesser extent, Starc'
spruce moose
Guest
4 wickets and this is over. Broad looks utterly scared and bereft of any confidence with the blade right now. He's a much better batsman than this, so it's weird to watch.
spruce moose
Guest
Wow, ridiculously harsh to blame Starc (who came in at 9) for being reckless.
spruce moose
Guest
Exactly.
Albo
Guest
The wonderful uncertainty of cricket, Geoff ! You are only as good as you last innings, but if you can put together a couple back to back you can win a series. I get the feeling that both these teams are of pretty average ability , with batting collapses likely at anytime, and with just one or two players from each team who will decide the outcome of this series.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
The point is that Warner (14 off 60) and Khawaja (20 off 49) did apply themselves and played well, but they were facing the world's best swing bowler with a new rock in perfect swinging conditions. The next day...well we can't be relying on Shaun Marsh to save our innings every time. Smith's decision put the batters in a position to fail, rather than putting the bowlers in a position to succeed.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Not enforcing the follow on was a mistake and it was obvious at the time. The soon the be ex bowling coach David Saker has even said it was a mistake. To me the only reason you wouldn't follow on was if you thought your bowlers just weren't bowling well enough to take advantage of the night conditions. I have seen Starc destroy teams in night sessions. He doesn't look to be in that form. But yes the batting wasn't great even if the conditions were tough and the bowling decent at times. The Poms didn't even bowl that well for a lot of that session. Too short and not making us play.
AREH
Roar Guru
It was definitely a most conservative decision, and he probably regrets is now. Had Australia actually applied themselves with the bat though and pushed the lead beyond 400, I doubt anybody would even be having the conversation.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Root was foolish in asking Australia to bat just as Smith was foolish for not enforcing the follow on. And their foolish decisions have just about cancelled each other out which leaves us in this really even position going in to day 5. Australia should never have been in a position where they could lose the match but they are. Will be up to Root with support from Bairstow, Woakes and Ali to get them home and it could well happen. But Cummins and Lyon are bowling well and they have a new ball to take after the first hour. History says Australia but England have a sniff.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
That's the point - England didn't make the runs so the the opportunity was there to end England's Ashes hopes and Smith didn't take it - exposed jugular...nah Smith will wait for the death of natural causes - he's lacking killer instinct.
AREH
Roar Guru
I tend to agree with this. If either England had made the remaining 15-16? runs to avoid it, the argument wouldn't even occur, but more importantly, if Australia had batted properly in their second innings I don't think people would have an issue with the decision. A lead of 400 at least, and the equation today looks a whole lot easier for Australia.
Swannies
Guest
Hopefully Root can survive the first hour and guide his team to victory. He is a great player and has copped unfair criticism over his decision at the toss. He deserves a win today.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
I get that the conditions were tough and Anderson was putting on a clinic but Australia needed to bat for 3 sessions to put England out of the game. Even at 4/53 at close on Monday night this should have been possible. Handscomb's form, Paine's shot selection and Starc's recklessness made this unlikely. When batting time to ensure England had a new ball to contend with at nightfall should have been the priority we chased runs we didn't need. While I feel the test would have been over at 1700 yesterday if we put them back in I get why this didn't happen. I don't think it's unreasonable for Smith to back his batsman to last three sessions regardless of the conditions
TC123
Guest
hard to bat poorly when you're in the field
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Not enforcing the follow on was the mistake. Smith exposed the Australian batters to the world's best swing bowler in conditions he couldn't have come up with in a wet dream. Anderson bowled 11 straight swinging the ball both ways and moving it off the pitch. Only Warner and Khawaja stood up to the challenge. Moreover Smith fed England self confidence. In any contest, the most valuable attribute in any leader is ruthlessness. Never give an opponent a break. Smith had the poms on the canvas and instead of dropping a knee into their sternum and delivering a hard punch to the bridge of their nose, he helped them back to their feet and let them catch their breath. Australia will probably still win, but he has gifted Anderson a five-for and Root a half-century. England's two most dangerous players have been gifted form and confidence. That is poor captaincy from Smith.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Australia is still in the box seat here, the second new ball will come and 178 with only 6 wickets in hand (if you can call Anderson a wicket) on a final day pitch is a big ask. However, I said it before, the test will come down to which captain has made the bigger blunder - Root by bowling first or Smith by not enforcing the follow on. We don't know yet. The pressure is all on the Australians to win though, no-one expects England to win or even come close so the longer they can bat to more edgy and volatile Steve Smith will become. Interestingly this will all be over one way or another before the final session lights and swing become a factor.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Not enforcing the follow-on wasn't the error. The way we batted in the second dig is the problem. They're not one and the same
englishbob
Guest
One of the better things about being an English cricket fan brought up in the 1990's on one humiliation after another is the willingness to clutch as the flimsiest of straws. If tomorrow situation was played out ten times you'd expect aus to win 8/9 but its not impossible, just nice to have a bit of competition. Have to say though, a few players from each side not withstanding, these are two of the most average ashes sides I can remember watching in 20 years