Ashes 2017, Australia vs England, Live Cricket Score, Day 4, 3rd Test: Mitchell Starc gets James Vince’s wicket as trouble mounts for England

Australia vs England, Ashes 3rd Test, Day 4 LIVE: England lost the wicket of Joe Root just before Tea. (Source: AP)

Trailing Australia by 259 runs, England needed a strong start from the opneres Mark Stoneman and Alastair Cook. But it was Australian Josh Hazlewood who turned on the heat in Perth. The right-hand fast bowler got the wicket of Stoneman in his first over, as the left-handed batsman gave away an easy catch to Tim Paine behind the stumps. Alastair Cook got together with James Vince and tried ticking the scoreboard. But soon, he too, became a victim to Hazlewood as the bowler took a one-handed instinctive catch on his bowling. Skipper Joe Root came on the middle and it looked he and Vince will be able to steady England innings before the close of the session. But the 26-year gave away a simple catch at slips on the very first ball bowled by Nathan Lyon in the innings. Heavy showers called in for an early Tea as England left the field at 71/3, trailing Australia by 188 runs.

Australia vs England, Live Cricket score and updates, 3rd Test, Day 4:

1340 hrs IST: WICKET! That’s clean bowled, Mitchell Starc, you beauty! James Vince departs on 55. England are in serious trouble now!

1320 hrs IST: FIFTY! That’s second half-century for James Vince and it has been a commendable effort. He continues to fight it hard in the middle.

1255 hrs IST: Back from TEA! The rain is over. It’s Mitchell Marsh into the attack. He starts off with a ruthless delivery. Huge appeal for LBW, but the ball pitched just outisde off.

1235 hrs IST: Heavy showers in Perth bring relief to England who will be hoping for a draw here. The players have gone off the field and the covers are on. Early Tea is being called. ENG 71/3, trail AUS by 188 at close of the second session.

1215 hrs IST: WICKET! Joe Root is gone, and it’s Nathan Lyon getting the HUGE wicket on his first ball. HE will be kicking himself, Root. He was looking good in the middle on 14 and a strong partnership was being built, but the off-spinner strikes with his first delivery in the innings. Smith takes the catch and look at him jumping. ENG 64/3, trail by 195 runs.

1200 hrs IST: It has started to drizzle in Perth and it seems the rain gods might bring Christmas early for Joe Root. He will happily take a draw from here and rainfall is the ideal way to go.

1140 hrs IST: WICKET! Alastair Cook fails to build a strong innings again. He departs on 14 after playing a loose shot and giving a straight catch to Josh Hazlewood. Good instinctive one-handed catch from the bowler. Always difficult to take a catch during run-up from bowling. Future seems to be in jeopardy for Cook. England 29/2

1115 hrs IST: WICKET! Mark Stoneman is gone in just second over! Big blow for England. Josh Hazlewood with a perfect line and length, and the left-hander gets a heavy knick. Simple catch for Paine. Australia are on their way for a massive win in Perth. ENG 1/4, trial by 255 runs.

1110 hrs IST: England come out to bat again with Mark Stoneman and Alastair Cook coming out in the middle. It has been an insipid series for Cook so far, but England badly need him to stick it out there. Can he redeem himself?

1055 hrs IST: WICKET! Nathan Lyon tries to hit it for a six but gets the top edge and it goes miles in the air. Easy catch for Moeen Ali. Steve Smith decides to declare the innings immediately. Australia reach 662/9, lead by 259 runs. Huge task for England.

1045 hrs IST: WICKET! James Anderson with another LBW just after Lunch. It is Pat Cummins, who had already struck two boundaries in the second session, who departs on 41. Calls for a review but the ball was clearly hitting the leg stump. Australia lose their eighth wicket. 

1040 hrs IST: Back from Lunch. Australia will continue to bat, but it seems that it might just be a matter of time when Steve Smith is going to call for declaraton of innings. England will hope to take the remaining wickets and get on to bat as soon as possible.

1000 hrs IST: And that’s call for Lunch. It goes down as a mixed-session as England managed to get the huge wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith. Mitchell Starc was also run-out early as Australia lost three wickets in quick succession. But Paine and Cummins settled the innings and took Australia to 643/7 at Lunch. Lead by 240 runs.

0945 hrs IST: Moeen Ali replaces Craig Overton just after one over. Is his rib injury playing a role here?

0930 hrs IST: 600 up for Australia, lead extends to over 200 runs. Are Australia planning to declare soon or will they continue to frustrate England bowlers for another session?

0920 hrs IST: Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad have been particularly ineffective with the ball in these innings, but these two are handling the charge at the moment. Can they turn it around before Lunch?

0850 hrs IST: WHAT A GOOD REVIEW CALL BY TIM PAINE! That certainly looked out. Michael Slater in the commentary box called it… “That’s out… that’s certainly out!” Huge appeal from Anderson. But the wicketkeeper called for a review. And replay showed the ball clearly missing leg stumps. Paine survives. AUS 576/7, lead by 173 runs.

0840 hrs IST: The new ball is available to England and but they are not using it right away. Can we expect England to make more damage before Lunch?

0825 hrs IST: WICKET! And another one is gone! What is happening here… another collapse? Tim Paine tries to steal a single amid a LBW appeal and Mitchell Starc sacrifices himself. He is caught MILES away from the crease as James Vince takes the bails off. Australia lose their third wicket in 30 minutes of the day’s play.  

0820 hrs IST: WICKET! STEVE SMITH IS GONE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL! England FINALLY found a way to get the Australian captain out. Steve Smith departs on 239. James Anderson gets another huge wicket and a gutsy call from Joe Root to go for a review. It looked like it’s going high. Australia lost both the set batsman in the first 30 minutes.

0802 hrs IST: WICKET! What a start for England! Just what the doctor ordered. James Anderson gets Mitchell Marsh out on the second ball of the day. He misses out on his double ton, goes back to pavilion on 181. AUS 549/5, lead by 146 runs

0800 hrs IST: And here we go with Day 4. It is James Anderson with the ball and once again skipper Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh in the middle for Australia. Can England break this partnership or are we in for another double century at WACA?