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England's Mark Stoneman (R) walks off after being dismissed by Australia on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match at the SCG in Sydney on January 7, 2018. (Image: AFP)
Khawaja shared a stand of 188 with captain Steve Smith, who was dismissed just before lunch, and another of 101 with Marsh, who just missed out on his second hundred of the series in the over before stumps.
Marsh will resume on 98 on day four with his brother Mitchell, who was 63 not out, as they look to bat the tourists out of the match and set up an opportunity for their bowlers to secure a win that would give Australia a 4-0 series triumph.
The Marsh brothers combined for 104 in the final session and punished England with a flurry of boundaries in the last hour as the bowlers tired after a long day's slog in bright sunshine at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It was Khawaja's sure hand, though, that guided Australia past England's tally of 346 after Mooen Ali (1-125) had stunned a packed house by moving the apparently unmoveable when he dismissed Smith caught and bowled for 83.
Smith had already scored three centuries, two of them unbeaten and one a double, in the series and although denied a fourth, walked off his home ground having amassed 687 runs at an average of 137.4 over the five tests.
Khawaja had an lbw scare in the following over but was reprieved when TV pictures showed Mason Crane had bowled a no ball and he otherwise looked assured as he calmly totted up the runs in the face of some tight English bowling.
A fine stroke-player but considered suspect against spin bowling, Khawaja has had a stop-start career in the baggy green since making his debut at the SCG in the corresponding Ashes clash eight years ago.
He wasted no time in knocking off the nine runs he needed to secure his first hundred against England at the start of the day, cutting Moeen for two before soaking up the ovation from a crowd largely clad in pink in support of former fast bowler Glenn McGrath's cancer charity.
Spinner Moeen was again bowling when he reached the 150 mark, two consecutive fours to get over the mark a rare flourish in a 381-ball innings that contained 18 of them along with a solitary six.
England captain Joe Root came closest to a breakthrough in the second session when Shaun Marsh, on 22, was given out caught behind only for the decision to be reversed when TV pictures showed a big gap between ball and bat.
It was debutant leg-spinner Crane who finally ended the 31-year-old's time out in the middle to claim his first test victim, beating the bat to leave Khawaja stranded and Jonny Bairstow with a simple stumping.
Crane, 20, attracted the ire of the crowd with his habit of pulling out of his run-up but kept his head up despite finishing with figures of 1-125. It was a very good day on the decision review system for Australia with Mitchell Marsh also reversing a late lbw decision after the snicko revealed an inside edge. Australia won back the Ashes with victories in the first three matches in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth with the fourth test in Melbourne finishing in a draw last week.
Commentary (England innings)
37.2 N Lyon to Bairstow, No run. 80/4
37.1 N Lyon to Root, 1 run. 80/4
36.6 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, No run. 79/4
36.5 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, No run. 79/4
36.4 J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, No run. 79/4
36.3 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR. 79/4
36.2 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, No run. 75/4
36.1 J Hazlewood to Root, 1 run. 75/4
Josh Hazlewood is back into the attack.
35.6 N Lyon to Root, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot for a single. 74/4
35.5 N Lyon to Bairstow, Chance of a run out! Bairstow drives it uppishly and then keeps running. The man from mid off gets to the ball and throws it at the striker's end but Root makes it in. 73/4
35.4 N Lyon to Bairstow, The batsman works it down the leg side. 72/4
35.3 N Lyon to Bairstow, Goes back and turns it past the short leg fielder for a couple. 72/4
35.2 N Lyon to Bairstow, Comes down the track and bunts it back to Lyon. 70/4
35.1 N Lyon to Bairstow, Floats it up around middle, Bairstow leans forward in defense. 70/4
34.6 M Starc to Bairstow, JB is away! Good length delivery on the pads, clipped through square leg for a single. 70/4
34.5 M Starc to Bairstow, Angling away on a fuller length outside off, Jonny chases after it as he pushes it towards cover. 69/4
34.4 M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller and angling in, driven towards the cover fielder. 69/4
34.3 M Starc to Bairstow, Angles it away on a length outside off, pushed towards point off the back foot. 69/4
34.2 M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller and on the stumps, Bairstow brings his bat down in time to work it away. 69/4
34.1 M Starc to Root, Strays a bit on the pads, clipped down to fine leg for a single. 69/4
33.6 N Lyon to Bairstow, Flatter one outside off, pushed towards point off the back foot. 68/4
33.5 N Lyon to Bairstow, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. 68/4
Jonny Bairstow is the new man in.
33.4 N Lyon to Malan, OUT! Clipping the wickets, umpire's call! Dawid Malan has to walk back. Big thing for Australia as Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and now Nathan Lyon have picked up 20 wickets in the series. Big, big feat this! After bowling a few bowls outside off, Lyon slides one in at 93 kph. Malan goes back and quickly tries to bring his bat down but seems to have missed it. Australians appeal and umpire after taking his time, raises the dreaded finger. Is it pad first? Malan walks towards his skipper and after a thought, takes the DRS! Replays show it's clearly pad first and then Hawk Eye shows it's pitched in line and would have clipped the top of the stumps. That's it. The hosts are 6 wickets away from 4-0! 68/4
LBW shout and after a long thought Joel Wilson gives it out. Is it pad first? Dawid Malan's reaction suggests so. Let's wait and find out...
33.3 N Lyon to Malan, Loopy ball, turning further away, Dawid makes a leave. 68/3
33.2 N Lyon to D Malan, Floated ball outside off, pushed towards mid off. 68/3
33.1 N Lyon to Malan, Tossed up delivery outside off, Malan prods forward in defense. 68/3
32.6 M Starc to Root, A cry for an LBW! Where is it pitching? Too high? Well, Starc feels it's the latter. Let's wait for the Hawk Eye. Oh dear, hate this when something like this happens on the last ball of the over and immediately an ad is shown next. Ball - Starc bowls it on a length, at 141.8 kph, Root is beaten for pace at once and wears it on the pads. Mitchell turns back to appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Smith asks about the review but Starc suggests height. And right so, Hawk Eye confirms. 68/3
32.5 M Starc to Root, Slants it on the fifth stump line, Joe shoulders his arms to leave it alone. 68/3
32.4 M Starc to Root, And as expected, Starc bangs in a short one on middle and leg. Root is quick to duck and then shares a smile. 68/3
Root seems to be in agony. He coped a blow on his right index finger and the physio is out to have a look. He is seen having a tablet and tries to shake hand with the physio but he's not too comfortable at all. Gets a bit of taping on his fingers. A bit of a delay and in the meanwhile, the players enjoy some refreshments. Good news for England, Joe Root is fine to continue. Brave lad!
32.3 M Starc to Root, Shortish delivery on middle, Root goes to pull but gets it off the gloves to square leg and rings his right hand straightaway. 68/3
32.2 M Starc to Root, Sprays a wide yorker, Joe crouches low and digs it out towards point. 68/3
32.1 M Starc to Root, Good length delivery on the stumps, JR stays deep in the crease to tap it back to Mitchell Starc. 68/3
31.6 N Lyon to Malan, Quicker one on middle and off, defended by getting behind the line. 68/3
31.5 N Lyon to Malan, Slows it through the air, lands it full outside off. Dawid with a stride forward pushes it towards point. 68/3
31.4 N Lyon to Malan, Pitches it outside off, turns miles away. Malan watches it till the last moment before making a leave. 68/3
31.3 N Lyon to Root, Hops back and tucks it past the man at short leg for one. 68/3
31.2 N Lyon to Root, From around the wicket, pitches it on middle, turning in, since it's on the shorter side, Root has time to go back and tuck it away. 67/3
31.1 N Lyon to Root, Drifting in on middle and leg, Root nudges it wide of the man at short mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 67/3
There is some issue with the ball. It doesn't pass through the 8-shaped loop and the umpires are changing it...
30.6 M Starc to Root, Lovely shot! Arches back to this short ball and places it square of the wicket on the off side and picks up three running runs. 65/3
30.5 M Starc to Root, Shortens his length and angles it in from outside off, Root with an angled bat pushes it to point. 62/3
30.4 M Starc to Root, Fuller in length and angling down leg, Root leans across and flicks it along the ground towards the square leg fielder. Remember, he got out in a similar fashion in the first innings. Only difference was he played that uppishly. 62/3
30.3 M Starc to Root, Strangles one down the leg side, Root moves inside the line to let it be. A good take from Paine behind. 62/3
30.2 M Starc to Root, Keeps it full at 124.7 kph, Root leans forward and drives it towards short cover. 62/3
30.1 M Starc to Root, Hits it around the back of a length mark, Root arches back and punches it towards point. 62/3
29.6 N Lyon to Malan, Loops it up outside off, blocked off the front foot comfortably. 62/3
29.5 N Lyon to Malan, Pushes it quicker through the air outside off, Malan makes a watchful leave. 62/3
29.4 N Lyon to Malan, Aaahhhh. Almost! Lures Malan forward, drifts in at a quicker pace and then fizzes past the outside edge to the keeper. Hands on head for Nathan. 62/3
29.3 N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 62/3
29.2 N Lyon to Malan, Quicker one on middle and leg, worked away through mid-wicket for a brace. 62/3
29.1 N Lyon to D Malan, Turning away outside off, slapped towards the fielder at point. 60/3
28.6 M Starc to Root, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 60/3
28.5 M Starc to Root, On middle and leg, worked towards the leg side. 60/3
28.4 M Starc to Root, Back of a length on the stumps, defended from within the crease. 60/3
Pat Cummins is lauded for his efforts. He has picked up 20 wickets in the series and more often he has relied on the raw pace. Has bent his back and always has troubled the batsmen. What will amaze you will be the fact that he was in some serious discomfort at the MCG Test but still came out and delivered for his skipper. Shows his mental strength and hunger to perform...
28.3 M Starc to Malan, On a length and angling in on middle and leg, wristed through the gap at mid-wicket for an easy single. 60/3
28.2 M Starc to Malan, On a length and outside off, Malan plays inside the line to make a leave. 59/3
28.1 M Starc to Root, Fuller but a bit too straight, Root gets inside the line and flicks it through square leg for a single. 59/3
27.6 N Lyon to Root, Loopy delivery outside off and again Root eases the drive through covers. This time he picks up three. 58/3
27.5 N Lyon to Root, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. They manage to come back for the second. 55/3
27.4 N Lyon to Root, Tosses it wider outside off, Root drives it against the turn through cover for a brace. 53/3
16 off the 19 wickets that Nathan Lyon has picked up in the series have been of the left-handers. They show his heat map in which it's seen that most of the deliveries that he pitches are around the off stump so he forces the batsman to play at everything that he throws. Very rare has he slid one down the leg side. Tidy stuff, Gary!
27.3 N Lyon to Root, Flatter one on middle and off, dealt off the back foot. 51/3
27.2 N Lyon to Root, Outside off, turning in a touch, Root counters it with a stride forward. 51/3
27.1 N Lyon to Malan, Drifting in on the pads, easy for Dawid to work it past short leg for a single. 51/3
26.6 M Starc to Root, Eases this full ball down towards mid off. Starc gets a hand to it in his followthrough. 50/3
26.5 M Starc to Root, Bangs in a short one on middle and off, Root winds up for a pull but gets a bottom edge and then gets hit on the right arm as the ball further rolls towards the slip cordon. Ian Healy says, it's good to see that the English skipper is still looking to score and not getting bogged down. 50/3
26.4 M Starc to Root, Fuller and attacking the stumps, Joe walks across and clips it towards mid-wicket. 50/3
26.3 M Starc to Root, Ahead of a length and arrowing it in, a bit of bounce off the deck but Root watches it till the last minute and defends it down. 50/3
26.2 M Starc to Root, Angles it in from outside off, it's on a back of a length. Root sticks deep in the crease to keep it out with an angled blade towards point. 50/3
26.1 M Starc to Root, Comes from over the wicket and keeps it full outside off, Root leans forward and digs it out towards cover. Starc immediately turns back and has a look near the landing zone. 50/3
Mitchell Starc is back into the attack, replacing Cummins.
25.6 N Lyon to Malan, From around the wicket, Lyon lands it full around off, Malan comes nicely forward and defends it under his nose. 50/3
25.5 N Lyon to Root, Gets forward and nudges it through mid-wicket to bring the half century up for England. 50/3
25.4 N Lyon to Root, Allows the ball to turn back in and then crouches low to meet it with a straight bat. 49/3
25.3 N Lyon to Root, This stays a touch low! Goes back again does Root and works it past short leg. 49/3
25.2 N Lyon to Root, On a flatter trajectory, turning back in from outside off, Root goes back and clips it on the bounce to short leg. It hits Bancroft on the stomach. 49/3
25.1 N Lyon to Root, Tossed up outside off, driven straight to covers. 49/3
Drinks time! Probing bowling by the Aussies. Shows in the snail's pace that England are crawling at the moment. Good thing for them is that the skipper is still in the middle along with Malan who has been in good touch of late. Their task isn't any easier with Lyon going on in full flow apart from the firing pace bowlers.
24.6 Pat Cummins to Malan, This is well outside off, no need for Malan to play those. 49/3
24.5 Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball around off, blocked from the crease. 49/3
24.4 Pat Cummins to Malan, Played to the point region by the batsman. 49/3
24.3 Pat Cummins to Malan, Appeal, turned down. Cummins runs in from round the wicket and hurls it on a length angling in. Malan hops and fails in his attempt to flick. Gets rapped high on the front pad. Pat shouts in appeal but doesn't get the umpire's nod. Height definitely the factor, as confirmed by the Ball Tracker. Everything on this looked similar to Stoneman's dismissal. Only the bowling hand differed apart from the height. 49/3
24.2 Pat Cummins to Joe Root, One of the better shots off Root's blade so far. Length ball outside off, Root strides forward and drives it through covers for three. 49/3
24.1 Pat Cummins to Root, Another play and a miss. Cummins hurls it with a cross seam outside off on a length, Root fishes out at it but just misses. 46/3
23.6 N Lyon to Malan, The batsman defends it from within the crease. 46/3
23.5 N Lyon to Malan, Flatter outside off, he slaps it towards cover-point. 46/3
Crowd around the batsman. A slip and a gully apart from bat-pad and short cover stand in attention.
23.4 N Lyon to Root, Joe gets back and punches it through covers for one. 46/3
23.3 N Lyon to Root, Nathan comes round the wicket and delivers it in line of the stumps. Root turns it towards mid-wicket. 45/3
23.2 N Lyon to Root, Root blocks this one from the crease. 45/3
23.1 N Lyon to Malan, Floated around off, Dawid gets off the mark with a clip through mid-wicket. 45/3
22.6 Pat Cummins to Root, Another bouncer to end the over, Joe evades this one with a duck. 44/3
22.5 Pat Cummins to Root, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. 44/3
22.4 Pat Cummins to Root, On the pads, clipped to mid-wicket. 44/3
22.3 Pat Cummins to Root, In the firing line! Cummins bangs this short at 144.8 kph. Root is hurried into ducking under it and manages to do so. 44/3
22.2 Pat Cummins to Root, Fuller ball on off, blocked off the front foot. 44/3
22.1 Pat Cummins to Root, Length ball, defended from the crease. 44/3
21.6 N Lyon to Malan, Gets behind this one and blocks. 44/3
21.5 N Lyon to Malan, Lovely ball. Draws Malan forward and then beats him with just a tiny amount of turn on that. 44/3
21.4 N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 44/3
21.3 N Lyon to Root, Root picks up a run by cutting it towards point. 44/3
21.2 N Lyon to Root, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 43/3
21.1 N Lyon to Root, This one is turned away towards mid-wicket. 43/3
Dawid Malan walks to the middle now. He is coming on the back of a half century.
20.6 Pat Cummins to J Vince, OUT! Edged, almost fluffed but eventually taken! Cummins runs in and launches this on a length at 141.2 kph just outside off. James Vince has always been troubled in this series in that channel of apprehension. Looks to punch that with hard hands and that's that. The ball flies off the outside edge and goes straight to Smith at widish slip. He takes it on the second attempt and then makes an expression of a kid caught copying in an examination. End of Vince's tour with the bat and that could also be the last of him that we see for sometime now. Cummins has his first wicket in the innings, fifth in the game and 20th wicket in the series - joint second-most in this Ashes. England are still 10 runs more than 250 behind Australia, who are 7 wickets away from an innings win. 43/3
20.5 Pat Cummins to Vince, Length ball around off, James lets it come on to him before dead-batting that. 43/2
20.4 Pat Cummins to Vince, The batsman defends it from within the crease. 43/2
20.3 Pat Cummins to Vince, Banged in line of the stumps, JV ducks. 43/2
20.2 Pat Cummins to J Vince, Another edge, runs again. Length ball around off, Vince gets squared up in defense. Gets it off the outer edge on the bounce past Smith at first slip for a couple. 43/2
20.1 Pat Cummins to Vince, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 41/2
19.6 N Lyon to Vince, A run taken by playing this to the point region. 41/2
19.5 N Lyon to Vince, James gets forward confidently in defense. 40/2
19.4 N Lyon to Vince, The dim sounds at the SCG says that the final decision is NOT OUT! Lyon floats it up nicely outside off, Vince looks to drive it through covers. Seems to have nicked it to the keeper as the Aussies go up in jubilation. You wouldn't be faulted for thinking it to be gone looking at the confidence of the hosts. Wilson agrees with them. Vince was as sure as he has ever been and uses the DRS that eventually comes to his aid. The Snicko shows a spike after the ball passes the bat, meaning the sound was of the bat hitting the ground. James stays on, the players get to their positions. 40/2
Another one gone? Vince is given out caught behind but he seeks to review it immediately.
19.3 N Lyon to Root, Root drives it through covers for one. The fielder there did well to stop it with a dive. 40/2
19.2 N Lyon to Root, Root presents a forward defense to this delivery. 39/2
19.1 N Lyon to Root, Edged but safe. Lyon serves it just outside off, the ball spins in greatly. Root looks to present a straight defensive bat but gets it off the inner edge through the gap between FSL and leg gully. 39/2
18.6 Pat Cummins to Vince, This is outside off, left alone. 39/2
18.5 Pat Cummins to Vince, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 39/2
18.4 Pat Cummins to Vince, Jaffa! Not Australia but my colleague here jumps up in appeal. This is bowled on a length outside off, Vince hangs his bat out at that but just misses out on getting out caught behind. That climbed up a bit as it was delivered with a cross seam. 39/2
18.3 Pat Cummins to Vince, Slower ball on a length at 121.9 kph. Vince lets it come on and dead-bats it. Seems as if Cummins left leg stuck in the ground in one of the steps. 39/2
18.2 Pat Cummins to Root, Length ball slanting on the pads, nudged down to fine leg for one. 39/2
18.1 Pat Cummins to Root, Length ball on off, defended towards covers. 38/2
17.6 N Lyon to Vince, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 38/2
17.5 N Lyon to Vince, Flatter and spinning in, Vince pads it away. The ball goes off his pads towards fine leg. No run taken as no stroke was offered there. Lyon asks a quiet question to the umpire who stays unmoved. 38/2
17.4 N Lyon to Vince, Outside off and spinning him, blocked with a straight bat. 38/2
17.3 N Lyon to Vince, What was that? Vince gets down the track and defends it in an awkward manner towards covers. Semblance of MS Dhoni in that defense there. 38/2
17.2 N Lyon to Vince, This time stays back and defends it with a straight bat. 38/2
17.1 N Lyon to Vince, Floated outside off at 89.1 kph, James slides down the track and gets an inside edge onto the thigh. 38/2
16.6 Pat Cummins to Root, Around off, defended from the crease. 38/2
16.5 Pat Cummins to Root, Length ball outside off, tapped towards covers. Root wanted a run initially but decided against it eventually. 38/2
16.4 Pat Cummins to Vince, This ball is flicked through square leg to rotate strike. 38/2
16.3 Pat Cummins to Root, Length ball on the hips nudged away through square leg for one. 37/2
16.2 Pat Cummins to Root, Gets on top of the bounce and pushes it back towards the bowler. 36/2
16.1 Pat Cummins to Vince, Runs in from over the wicket and angles it into Vince. He clips it to fine leg for one. 36/2
Pat Cummins into the attack now. He picked up a 4-fer in the first essay and would be raring to have a go yet again.
15.6 N Lyon to Root, Another forward defense to this ball on the stumps. 35/2
15.5 N Lyon to Root, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 35/2
15.4 N Lyon to Vince, Vince eases this one to the cover region for a single. 35/2
15.3 N Lyon to Joe Root, Almost! Floated outside off, Root gets forward in defense. The ball doesn't spin much and takes the outside edge and goes on the bounce to the right of Smith. He dives and gets a hand to that but a run results. On first look, it seemed that a catch had gone down. 34/2
15.2 N Lyon to Root, Root defends this one off the front foot. 33/2
15.1 N Lyon to Vince, Floated up on off, worked away through mid-wicket to rotate strike. 33/2
14.6 J Hazlewood to Root, Root defends this one from the crease. 32/2
14.5 J Hazlewood to Root, Banged short on the stumps, ducked under by Joe. 32/2
14.4 J Hazlewood to Root, Hurled fuller outside off, Joe covers the stumps and points his bat skywards as he lets that go. 32/2
14.3 J Hazlewood to Root, JR defends it from within the crease. 32/2
14.2 J Hazlewood to J Vince, Vince plays one of the most elegant cover drives in the game. He does so this time but gets a triple as the ball didn't have legs to go all the way. 32/2
14.1 J Hazlewood to Vince, Hurled in line of the stumps, defended with a straight bat back to the bowler. Josh isn't happy with something as he looks a bit disappointed. Not sure what. 29/2
13.6 N Lyon to Root, Outside off, played towards point. 29/2
13.5 N Lyon to Root, The batsman works it down the leg side. 29/2
13.4 N Lyon to Root, Nicely played. Root goes back and just punches this through cover-point for a couple. 29/2
13.3 N Lyon to Root, Root strides forward and defends it off the inner half towards short leg. 27/2
13.2 N Lyon to Root, Streaky! Root goes back to play this one towards the point but gets the inner edge towards slip on the bounce. Perhaps it turned more than Joe expected it to. 27/2
13.1 N Lyon to Root, Good line. He bowls it in line of the off stump, Root covers the stumps and blocks it from the crease. 27/2
Nathan Lyon will continue with his spell.
12.6 J Hazlewood to Vince, A bit fuller than the previous one, James looks to turn it to the on side but gets it off the outer edge back towards the bowler. 27/2
12.5 J Hazlewood to J Vince, Angles in from outside off, Vince gets an inside edge onto his pads on the defense. 27/2
12.4 J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince keeps this one out with a back foot defense. 27/2
12.3 J Hazlewood to Vince, Variable pace on the track? Josh bowls this at 135.3kph but down the leg side. Vince just lets it be. It goes on the bounce to the keeper. 27/2
12.2 J Hazlewood to Vince, This is full around off, defended off the front foot onto the ground. 27/2
12.1 J Hazlewood to Vince, Full delivery to start off, pushed down past mid off for a couple. 27/2
Here we are. Among the things that we can measure, 40 overs are left. It would require unmeasurable amounts of patience, grit and stamina to come out unscathed on the other side of it. James Vince will face Josh Hazlewood to set things going. Joe Root stands at the other end.
... Penultimate Day, Final Session ...
It isn't easy to spend long time on the field and then come back and be on the money with the bat straightaway. To be honest, a staunch resistance wasn't something expected from the tourists, too, with the way the tour has panned out for them. The conditions aren't the easiest ones either. With the temperature being on the north side of 40s, it could get to both the sides. But the continuous fall of wickets is just the ice that would cool the Aussies. James Vince, Joe Root, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow have the potential, will they use it today? Don't go anywhere as another testing session of play is just upon us.
If you had any doubts till the previous break as to who was bossing the game, this period would have put those to ease. The name of the side starts and ends with an A! Their bowlers were right on the mark from the word go and the result is there for all to see. Mark Stoneman? Gone. Alastair Cook? Let off but then sent off! The hosts aren't someone who'd give the opposition an inch. But with that dropped catch, they did. Fortunately for them, it didn't prove costly as Nathan Lyon got down with his task of weaving magic with the ball.
11.6 N Lyon to Root, Root negotiates the final ball of the session that is full in length by going back and bunting it towards short leg. That's TEA, DAY 4! 25/2
11.5 N Lyon to Root, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 25/2
11.4 N Lyon to Root, Another one around off, Root goes back and blocks. 25/2
11.3 N Lyon to Root, Darted on the stumps, Joe lines behind it and keeps it out. 25/2
Luring tactics. Australia have left the cover region open, telling the English captain, 'Go on, drive it against the spin.' All wicket-taking tactics these.
11.2 N Lyon to Root, Tossed up on off, defended solidly. 25/2
11.1 N Lyon to Vince, Floated outside off, James takes a run by playing it through the point region. 25/2
10.6 J Hazlewood to Root, This is full outside off, Root lets it go unharmed. 24/2
10.5 J Hazlewood to Root, Nice off drive for nothing as it finds the man at mid off. 24/2
10.4 J Hazlewood to Root, Length ball outside off, defended towards point. 24/2
10.3 J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince taps it towards covers and gets to the other end. 24/2
10.2 J Hazlewood to Vince, Is he a goner? No! Hazlewood delivers it on a length that is a bit short. Vince sways back to let it go but doesn't drag his body away. The ball goes off his shoulder and Paine dives in front of slip to take that. Painful for Vince? Maybe. 23/2
10.1 J Hazlewood to Vince, This is outside off, left alone. 23/2
9.6 N Lyon to Root, Flatter on the stumps, blocked from the crease. 23/2
9.5 N Lyon to Root, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 23/2
9.4 N Lyon to Root, This is around off, Joe plays this one towards point. 23/2
9.3 N Lyon to Root, Floated in line of the stumps, wristed to mid on. 23/2
9.2 N Lyon to Root, Root gets nicely forward to this one and presents a straight defensive bat. 23/2
9.1 N Lyon to Root, Tossed up on leg, knocked towards mid-wicket. 23/2
8.6 J Hazlewood to Vince, A touch fuller on off, Vince gets ahead and defends. 23/2
8.5 J Hazlewood to Vince, Length ball on the stumps, James keeps it out from the back foot. 23/2
8.4 J Hazlewood to Vince, This is outside off, left alone. 23/2
8.3 J Hazlewood to Vince, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 23/2
8.2 J Hazlewood to Root, Length ball on the pads, Root clips it through square leg. Lyon gets to his left and does the mopping up job, saves a run for his side. 23/2
8.1 J Hazlewood to Root, On off, defended with a straight bat from Root. 20/2
Josh Hazlewood gets a change of end.
7.6 N Lyon to Vince, Vince negotiates the last one safely with a defense. Another maiden for Lyon. 20/2
7.5 N Lyon to Vince, Vince goes back to this one and keeps it out. 20/2
7.4 N Lyon to Vince, Lyon comes over the wicket now, Vince turns this to mid-wicket with the spin. 20/2
7.3 N Lyon to Vince, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 20/2
7.2 N Lyon to Vince, Vince gets down the track and bunts it. 20/2
7.1 N Lyon to Vince, Floated on the stumps, blocked off the front foot. 20/2
Nice point by Shane Warne. He observes that Lyon set Cook up nicely there. First he invited him forward with a loopy ball that spun and beat him. Then he slid in an arm delivery. Again he pulled his length back. Seeing that there is turn available and the new ball can skid on, he slipped in the delivery that got him at a length that was a bit short which also spun. Cook although should have been forward to the one which proved to be his demise. Yet full marks to Lyon. As clever as a spinner can get.
6.6 M Starc to Root, This one is blocked from the crease. 20/2
6.5 M Starc to Root, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. 20/2
6.4 M Starc to Root, Again on the pads, clipped to fine leg for a couple. 20/2
6.3 M Starc to Root, A yorker jammed out well by Root. 18/2
6.2 M Starc to Root, Strays on the pads on this one, Root nudges it through backward square leg for a couple. 18/2
6.1 M Starc to Root, Starc continues round the wicket to the right-hander and bowls it full. Joe drives it towards mid on. 16/2
5.6 N Lyon to Root, Root gets off the mark with a flick through mid-wicket. 16/2
Joe Root walks in next with his team in trouble early. Every delivery bowled by the Aussies seems like a goblet of fire now.
5.5 Lyon to Cook, OUT! Gone! Big wicket for the tweaker, considering the aura of the batsman. Lyon strikes in his first over. He darts this one at 96 kph around middle and off. Cook goes back to negotiate this one but is beaten by the away turn as well. That spells his doom as the ball makes contact with the off stump behind. The staid look on Cook's face couldn't be more evident. He knows how important it was for him to be out there. He was given a chance earlier in the innings but has failed to make it count. To be fair to him, the crumbling track made it spin a touch more than he expected. That's not to be counted for now, as England lose two in the piece. They are still 289 runs adrift. 15/2
5.4 N Lyon to Cook, Blocked watchfully from the crease. 15/1
5.3 N Lyon to Cook, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. 15/1
5.2 N Lyon to Cook, Cook hangs back and defends this one. 15/1
5.1 N Lyon to Cook, Ripper first up! Lyon floats it around off, Cook comes forward to defend but the ball spins away past the outer edge of the bat. A puff of dust seen on that occasion as well. 15/1
Yes, here he is! The king of the jungle. Nathan Lyon gets an opportunity to bowl. We could see the track spitting some dust when England were bowling and that could help this guy now.
4.6 M Starc to Cook, AC shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot. They pick up a single. 15/1
4.5 M Starc to Cook, Nicely punched through mid off on the up for a couple. 14/1
4.4 M Starc to Vince, Starc runs in from round the wicket and bowls it on the pads. Vince takes a leg bye as he misses the flick. 12/1
4.3 M Starc to Cook, Alastair clips it down to fine leg and gets to the other end. 11/1
4.2 M Starc to Cook, AC has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 10/1
4.1 M Starc to Cook, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. 10/1
3.6 J Hazlewood to Vince, FOUR! Bad line, punished. Hazlewood strays on the pads and pays the price. Vince just helps it away and the ball goes to the fine leg fence quickly. Gets off the mark with that. 10/1
3.5 J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince doesn't bother putting bat to this ball outside off. 6/1
3.4 J Hazlewood to Vince, Outside off, left alone. 6/1
3.3 J Hazlewood to Vince, The batsman defends it from within the crease. 6/1
3.2 J Hazlewood to Vince, This is outside off, left alone. 6/1
3.1 J Hazlewood to A Cook, DROPPED! Yes, you read that right. Australia's horrid time with the catching continues. Who's the guy to have got the reprieve? Alastair Cook! Michael Vaughan reckons it would have been game, set, match had this been taken. Hazlewood continues round the wicket and lands it on a length just outside off. Cook has a poke at it and gets a nice thick edge that flies towards first slip. Shaun Marsh there is a bit late to react and gets his right hand out but fails to catch that. Perhaps the heat is getting onto them as well as he was out in the middle for a significant while today. Nevertheless, Cook survives and gets to the other end. Interestingly, the ball wasn't far from the keeper's helmet behind. 6/1
James Vince walks in next with Australia breathing fire.
2.6 M Starc to Stoneman, OUT! England lose Stoneman and a review as well! Starc bowls it on a length in line of the stumps, Stoneman hops and looks to clip it away but fails to do so. Gets struck on the front pad and that is enough for Starc and the Australians to yell in appeal. They get the umpire's nod. Mark talks to his partner and takes it upstairs but the Hawk Eye upholds the original decision. This is how difficult life can get. Stoneman was under the lid at short leg the whole day yesterday and even this morning. He copped a few blows on his glute and his body. Now when he gets a chance to do what his primary skill is, he has to walk back early. Had a good time to show the world that he had a nature akin to his name but that opportunity is now gone. He falls to Starc for the fourth time in the series. England rocked back early, this would certainly pump the hosts up. 5/1
The SCG roars as Stoneman is ruled out LBW on-field! The batter has a chat with his partner and opts for the DRS.
2.5 M Starc to Stoneman, This is outside off, Mark lets it go. 5/0
2.4 M Starc to M Stoneman, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. 5/0
2.3 M Starc to Stoneman, Is it a bird or an airplane? No it's Tim Paine! Starc sprays this down leg, Mark looks to flick but misses. Paine leaps full stretch to his right and takes it cleanly. 5/0
2.2 M Starc to A Cook, 12000 Test runs for Alastair Cook! Starc angles it in on a length, Cook hops a touch and looks to flick. Ends up getting an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards square leg. He picks up a run and raises his bat after his partner tells him about the landmark. 5/0
2.1 M Starc to Cook, Full outside off, left alone. 4/0
1.6 J Hazlewood to Stoneman, The batsman has played it to the point region. 4/0
1.5 J Hazlewood to A Cook, Cook drives this through covers for a single. 4/0
1.4 J Hazlewood to Cook, Another one outside off, left alone. 3/0
1.3 J Hazlewood to A Cook, Length ball outside off, pushed through covers for a brace. 3/0
1.2 J Hazlewood to Cook, This is outside off, left alone. 1/0
Surprise for Ian Healy already! The move from Hazlewood to start from round the wicket does that to him. He reckons that when Josh comes over the wicket, he gets it to move in after angling it away. But it becomes slightly easier when the angle is from round the stumps. The first innings dismissal of Cook was from over the wicket by Hazlewood. All these points defy the bowler's logic.
1.1 J Hazlewood to Cook, Josh runs in from round the wicket and bowls it on a length outside off. Cook covers the sticks and lets it go. 1/0
Josh Hazlewood will run in from the other end with the new ball.
0.6 M Starc to Stoneman, Blocks this one from the crease to end the first over safely. Decent start for both sides. 1/0
0.5 M Starc to Stoneman, Very full outside off, Stoneman looks to dig it out but fails. 1/0
0.4 M Starc to Stoneman, Another ball outside off, Stoneman just lets it be. 1/0
0.3 M Starc to Stoneman, Nicely bowled outside off, left alone. 1/0
0.2 M Starc to Cook, Cook is underway. He just turns it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end to open his and his side's account. 1/0
0.1 M Starc to Cook, Beaten straightaway! Trust Australia to take full advantage of the opposition's low time. Starc runs in from over the wicket and spears a 142.7 kph delivery on a length outside off. Cook gets squared up a touch as he pokes his bat at that. Thankfully for him, the edge was left alone by the new cherry. 0/0