Third Ashes Test finely poised after Cummins will get key Root wicket
T
he Third Ashes Test stays on a knife-edge, with Harry Brook driving England nearer to victory after Australia made early breakthroughs on the fourth morning.
Chasing 251 for the win that would keep the series alive, England resumed on 27 with out loss however noticed their high 4 – together with a promoted Moeen Ali – all dismissed within the opening session to succeed in lunch on 153 for 4, with 98 runs nonetheless to get.
Both openers had performed nicely to outlive a difficult closing interval on day three, however Ben Duckett succumbed to Mitchell Starc within the fourth over of the morning, trapped lbw and taking a wasted assessment with him.
With Ollie Pope dominated out for the collection, England had moved Brook to No3 within the first innings right here, however after he had made simply three, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum opted for a rejig, Moeen as a substitute shuffled up the order.
The all-rounder added simply 5 earlier than being bowled by Starc however the transfer might but repay, with Brook unbeaten on 40 on the interval returning to his normal slot at No5 and joined by Stokes.
Zak Crawley, in the meantime, had regarded in high-quality contact once more however in usually irritating vogue edged Mitchell Marsh behind on 44 making an attempt to repeat a wonderful stroke by means of cowl the earlier ball.
Root regarded uncharacteristically nervy initially of his innings, thrashing at Starc’s large supply and edging simply in need of the slip cordon, however regarded to have settled till the return of Pat Cummins to the assault, Australia’s captain prising out England’s greatest batter for the third innings in succession.