The Ashes: England chasing 251 after Head bolsters Australian lead
L
est the heavens intervene as soon as extra, there shall be no thrilling day 5 conclusion to this match to observe these at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
Despite two-thirds of Saturday being worn out by rain, the Third Test is charging in the direction of its climax, England set to begin day 4 on 27 with out loss, chasing 251 to maintain the Ashes alive.
That the goal is even that grand is thanks largely to Travis Head, who proved explosive knocks with the tail are usually not the unique protect of Ben Stokes, belting 77 as Australia added 108 runs to their in a single day 116 for 4, the ultimate six wickets shared equally by Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.
A day three Headingley crowd had been made to attend till 4:45pm for his or her first motion of the day and even then it consisted of only a solitary over from Woakes earlier than an extra bathe compelled the gamers off.
Thankfully, although, the delay was temporary, with England’s quickly setting about their work in circumstances as useful as virtually any within the sequence to date.
Both first innings centurion Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Alex Carey had been out making an attempt to go away Woakes, the previous gloving by way of to Jonny Bairstow and the latter failing to get bat out of the way in which and guiding onto his personal stumps.
Carey, who’s discovering controversy stalking him by way of this sequence, was once more jeered on and off the sphere by the Western Terrace, his departure the cue for Wood’s introduction within the hope of charging by way of the tail as soon as extra.
The scheme started properly, Mitchell Starc out skying the fast. The catch ought to have been Bairstow’s, however the Yorkshireman has been something however decisive behind the stumps to date within the sequence and hesitated, Harry Brook as a substitute racing again from short-leg to take an outstanding diving seize.
Pat Cummins had been speared for nought my Wood’s tempo within the first dig and his solely achievement within the second was in avoiding a pair, the skipper feathering behind on one.
Head had been surprisingly subdued as his solid of companions continued to rotate, Australia’s most harmful batter content material to let the tail have a swing. Spinner Todd Murphy hit his first ball for 4, the outfield too fast for the crocked Ollie Robinson ambling around the fence because the lead handed 200. Moeen Ali confirmed his teammate the way it must be accomplished, stopping one other boundary with a Sol Campbell-style slide deal with.
Head, although, was quickly following the Stokes playbook, farming the strike and hitting cleanly sufficient to pierce the gaps in England’s boundary patrol, the batter’s half-century introduced up nailing Wood by way of midwicket. In one four-over spell, Murphy confronted only one ball as Australia added 31 runs, Head’s supposed short-ball frailties nowhere to be seen as he repeatedly cleared a diffusion discipline.
The return of Broad rapidly confirmed the place England had been going fallacious, the veteran producing an exquisite over of high-class seam just too good for Murphy, who was ultimately trapped in entrance. He wanted just one supply at Head to place the seal on Australia’s innings, Ben Duckett taking a high-pressure catch within the deep.
With lower than half-an-hour left within the day, you puzzled whether or not England may get funky with their selection of openers, however Duckett and Zak Crawley emerged of their typical roles.
Neither had been in survival mode, Crawley carving Cummins by way of midwicket for 4 in a primary over that value 9, earlier than Duckett hit consecutive boundaries to finish the Australian captain’s second.
Starc on the different finish, although, was harmful, Duckett edging simply shy of Steve Smith at slip after Australia had failed with a overview for caught behind, then over the cordon for 4 extra.
Both although, made it by way of to the shut, making a helpful dent within the goal with a 27-run partnership in simply 5 overs, with England agency favourites on a floor the place chasers have received 5 Tests in a row. The sample of this sequence, nonetheless, suggests there could also be twists to come back but.