England insist Mark Wood is not carrying an injury into the crucial final day of the Ashes at The Oval, as they hope rain can this time play into their favour while Australia look to seal a first series win in the UK since 2001.
Pat Cummins’ men need 249 more runs for victory with all 10 wickets in hand to take the series 3-1. A draw will also be enough to win the series 2-1, particularly if more rain intervenes and the day is shortened from the 98 overs currently available.
“We’re in a great position at the moment,” Australia’s batting coach Michael Di Venuto said.
“There are a lot of guys who have been on Ashes series over here in the past and haven’t managed to win. Twenty years is a long time.
“We’re in a great position for some of the boys to get that on their resume.”
David Warner. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Warner and Khawaja are among the men to have felt the most pain in England, having had five unsuccessful Ashes tours between them.
Khawaja has also been dropped twice in the country in 2013 and 2019, while Warner is still without a Test century in England from 37 innings.
But from an unlikely position, and needing to pull off the highest-ever successful fourth-innings chase at The Oval, the pair have given Australia genuine hope.
Crucially, Warner was able to get through two separate spells against the retiring Stuart Broad, in the last head-to-head battle between the veteran stars.
The left-hander drove Broad for four through the offside in the opening over, and later survived a chest-high beamer from James Anderson when he ran it down to the third-man rope.
After looking somewhat scratchy early, Warner upped the ante after lunch and slog-swept Joe Root for four as one of nine boundaries.
Warner’s form has been heavily scrutinised on this tour, after he made several starts without producing a statement score.
But if the 36-year-old is able to push Australia towards victory at The Oval, it will almost certainly lock him in for his dream farewell retirement at the SCG in January.
Khawaja had looked even more composed than Warner, with his only moment of concern a short ball from Mark Wood that hit him on the back of the helmet.
With England’s tiring attack appearing otherwise unthreatening on a wicket that has slowed down significantly, Khawaja barely offered a chance at The Oval in the opening two sessions.
He also passed 5000 Test runs just before the rain delay, a remarkable feat given Khawaja’s career looked over two years ago when he was yet to reach the 3000-run milestone.
“Outstanding start from our two openers,” Di Venuto said.
“They have put some starts together through the series. To get a 100-run start when we are chasing 380 was an outstanding effort.”
If Australia win the match, it will mark the second-highest run-chase in their Test history and the eighth-best of all time.
England meanwhile were downplaying concerns over Wood after the most dangerous bowler of the series in the past two-and-a-half Tests was held back from bowling until Australia were 0-99 in pursuit of 384 on Sunday.
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
The speedster then sent down three overs, struck Khawaja on the back of the helmet, and left the field at the end of his spell with figures of 0-16.
Play was called off shortly after when rain washed out the afternoon. Wood’s low workload prompted fears he was carrying an injury, after an eight-year career dotted with setbacks and limited to 30 Tests.
But assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted that was not the case, and claimed the decision to hold Wood back until the 33rd over over was simply tactical.
“He’s fit to bowl,” Trescothick said. “I think pretty much like everybody, there’s little aches and pains that are going off the back of a big five-Test series.
“Both teams will be travelling in the same way at the moment. But, yeah, everyone is fit to bowl. It was a tactical decision.”
A week after rain ended England’s chances of regaining the Ashes at Old Trafford, the hosts are now hopeful it can come to their aid at The Oval.
Scattered showers are forecast again for Monday, and England must take 10 wickets while on the field to level the Ashes 2-2 and deny Australia a series victory.
Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
But the hosts can see an upside to it given they have an ageing attack that has been asked to bowl far more than Australia in this series.
James Anderson turned 41 on Sunday, Stuart Broad is 37 and playing his last Test, Moeen Ali is 36 and battling a groin injury and Chris Woakes is aged 34.
Wood is the youngest bowler at 33, but England have generally tried to keep him to short, sharp spells in this series.
“The bowlers get a bit more time to put feet up (if it rains), get a bit more work with the masseurs and physios,” Trescothick said. “It’s harder to bat when you have those interruptions, because of the on-off situation of concentration. You can always be a little bit fresher, and ready for each session or each spell when you get back out there.”
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Never impacts the playing of the game.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Historically it has :stoked: History tells us you don’t go to The Wanderers with a spin attack . History tells us you always bat first at Newlands.. Why ..? Because history tells us that’s so . ..History also tells us that people in general don’t take sufficient lessons from history .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
rain radar update from middle of lunch a few km south of oval through to tea there's a chance of quite a bit of rain . it may miss or catch the oval for an hour and then another 15 mins so the middle session could go either way to a rain delay or partial rain delay . first and last sessions which would run late look good to go so they will likely play to 7pm or bad light
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Australia are in the position of being able to say forget history, we're only chasing 250 Such a total is much less overwhelming and much more attainable. Get through the first hour and then might be time to play some shots
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Especially since we are going at 3 8/3.9.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Woakes is not that good
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's the press. Cricketers won't subscribe to that.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
History has never been a factor in any game of cricket...ever.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Agree pierro the first session will decide it. England will come out hard and we may have to weather the storm for a while. If our run rate drops below 4 than those with less patience will be calling for public executions but the key is not losing too many wickets and then cashing in as they tire and are forced to turn to Moeen and co
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Dunno ..I still have England despite the great start to the innings in prime position to win this match , weather permitting of course . Can't ignore that Australia virtually have to rewrite history at this ground to pull off a win . First session today early wickets , England to win . It would still require occupation of the crease by these two batsmen for a while yet for Australia to win . If I were Stokes , all out attack first session today .
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Got to go for the win. If we stop looking to score it just allows England to set more attacking fields and bowl more aggressively which makes the task of surviving harder. It is not like we have to score quickly. If we bat “normally” we will do it comfortably.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think they start on time in England and play later usually up to at least 7pm often but surely no more than 98 overs. met site says rain at 3pm for an hour . key is first session for aus . survive it and don’t chase to hard. 70 to 75 runs first session would mean 170 to 180 needed with only one or two down . means they can asses next session and next new ball and rain break from there . new ball may come right before rain break if any . I wouldn’t be chasing too hard until after the rainbreak , if it comes , around the middle of day as they could still play 35 overs after that and if marsh and head haven’t come in by then it’s game on
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I’d agree see of woakes (Don’t flash or fish for at his deliveries ) and wait for wood to tire and then pick him off at over 4 to 6 of each spell. spot on though James .woakes has been their bowling weapon since third test . evidence aussies should have played neser at headingly and Manchester If evidence was needed for a swing bowler to play but too late for that now . neser will be confined to an outsider in uk now for history and Aus will never know if he could have been a rampant weapon in the third and 4th test matches die to stubborn selectors
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
No Sarge. Haven't seen anything to suggest that will happen
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Anyone know if play is starting early with the extra overs?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
We might see Stokes bowl if they're desperate, he is a bit of a golden arm and has a long lay off after this match +/- surgery England should be denied a new ball until the 90th over given that Joel Wilson selected a replacement ball much newer than the first ball. Ball changing needs to be removed from the game
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
98 overs is a long time to bat out a draw, even with ten wickets in hand Currently the RRR is 2.54 which is not overly onerous but if overs are lost due to rain then it could blow out. Both a draw and win result in a series win for Australia whereas England need the wickets
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've read a number of stories in the past few hours that refer to "England's tiring attack". Putting this into perspective, they've had a rest on days one and 3 of this Test and in this innings have bowled a total of 38 overs on day 4. Of those, the spinners have bowled 14, which means the 4 quicks have bowled a total of 24 overs - and this is a tired attack? If they've got to bowl for a full day tomorrow, they'll be lucky to make it to lunch if they're this exhausted now.
jameswm
Roar Guru
England's bowling is a bit of a mess this test Broad - still going fine Woakes - the biggest threat Anderson - going ok, but less threatening Wood - not 100%, down on pace, not as threatening Stokes - injured not bowling Ali - injured, not a great threat Root - decent part timer (like Head) See off Woakes, make all the others bowl and milk them.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Is Cummins plan right from the outset to go for the win and lead 3-1 or batten down the hatches and play for the draw giving them a 2-1 result? The intent probably has to be known right from the start otherwise they will be behind the run rate and think safety first. I think I know what Stokes would do.