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Mitchell Starc. (Getty Images)
Brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh had earlier both scored centuries on a scorching morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground to put Australia in a position where they could declare on 649-7 in the second session.
England, already 3-0 down in the series with the urn relinquished, had toiled in the field in temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius with little success and their luck did not change when they came out to bat.
Openers Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman went cheaply inside the first six overs of their second innings with James Vince (18) and Dawid Malan (five) following in the final session.
Skipper Joe Root, who made an unbeaten 42 despite playing with an injured finger, and Jonny Bairstow (17 not out) will take England's fight to save the test into the final day.
The Marsh brothers had earlier joined the Chappell siblings Ian and Greg (1972) and the Waugh twins Mark and Steve (2001) in scoring centuries in the same innings in an Ashes test.
Shaun Marsh made 156 from 291 balls before being run out by a Stoneman direct hit just after lunch, with Mitchell having departed for 101 on the delivery after securing his second century when Tom Curran took out his off stump.
The brothers both scored their second centuries of the series in a brilliant 169-run partnership that built on the mammoth 171 Usman Khawaja scored on Saturday.
It was a particularly sweet partnership given Shaun was a controversial selection for the series, his eighth recall to the test line-up being met with disbelief in some quarters, and Mitchell was only brought in for the third test in Perth.
Mitchell was the second to reach the milestone about an hour into the morning with two runs past point and Shaun was in such a hurry to congratulate his little brother that he almost ran him out.
"Emotions got the better of me and I wanted to give him a hug," 34-year-old Shaun told reporters.
"To be out there with Mitch, to both score our test centuries today for Australia, being out there and sharing each other’s emotions when we got to our hundreds, was an extremely happy moment. It’ll certainly be a day that we won’t forget."
Shaun had started the day on 98 with Australia 479 for four and took just five balls to secure his sixth test century by crunching Moeen Ali through the covers for one of the 18 fours he scored in his 403-minute knock.
While Australia flourished with the bat, England continued to struggle.
Cook did become the sixth batsman to score 12,000 runs in tests but the ovation had barely been completed before Stoneman was dismissed for a duck by pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, the batsman reviewing the lbw decision to no avail.
Former skipper Cook was dismissed for 10 rocking back in his crease to a superb delivery from spinner Nathan Lyon that removed the bail from his off stump.
Vince enjoyed a rare England success with the DRS to reverse a caught behind verdict on 15 but he made just three more runs before offering up another poor shot to a Pat Cummins delivery which caught a nick which Steve Smith juggled to take at slip.
Root needed lengthy treatment on his right index finger after taking a rap on the digit from a Starc delivery before Malan was trapped lbw on his back foot by Lyon for five, the review system again failing England.
"In many ways the last few days have summed up our trip," said England assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
"It's been exceptionally tough, we've come up against a team that's playing very good cricket but the one thing that we've been talking about is making sure we keep on fighting and battling."
Commentary (England innings)
Steven Smith and his men will walk off with a feeling that they need one more wicket to have a shaky lower order to expose. A wicket and floodgates shall be opened or maybe not, if... if England batsmen decide to dig in out there. So, Australia hold the aces and are likely to go 4-0 but we saw them in a similar position at the MCG in the previous Test and it was their skipper who hung in and battled hard to force a draw. What do we have in store? A meek surrender? A remarkable fight back? Join us tomorrow at 1030 Local (1130 GMT) for the final day of this Ashes series. Before we leave you can catch some more action from the first Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town where the match is nicely poised. We take your leave because... Eyes shutting!!! Take care and cheers!
Joe Root walked in next and the whole of England would be happy that he is still out there. To be honest, he looked really confident and will the only wall standing upright. James Vince and Dawid Malan both succumbed but it was Jonny Bairstow who stayed till the end to make sure there is no further hiccup. Still the job isn't half done yet. Three full sessions to go and the right way would be to take it over-by-over and drag the game till the end.
The Australian bowlers got good amount of rest and were raring to go in. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were right on the money and in fact, the former removed Mark Stoneman for a duck to further put a dent on them. Smith didn't waste anytime to bring his ace-spinner, Nathan Lyon into the attack and got the rewards through as the offie removed Alastair Cook through a peace of a delivery.
Excellent finish to the day for Australia. Once again they dominate the proceedings and are on cusp of a huge victory here. The day started with the Marsh brothers continuing from where they left off. Both scored their respective tons and then Tim Paine came in to have some more fun. The hosts swelled the lead to a massive 303 before the verdict came from the dressing room.
45.6 N Lyon to Root, Flighted delivery outside off, Root leans forward and drives it on the bounce as it hits Usman Khawaja on its way at silly point. STUMPS ON DAY 4! 93/4
45.5 N Lyon to Root, Tossed up delivery outside off, asking him to drive against the spin but Root resists and blocks it down watchfully. 93/4
45.4 N Lyon to Root, Flighted delivery around middle and off, Root tucks it towards short leg. 93/4
45.3 N Lyon to Root, Allows the ball to come back in, blocked gently. 93/4
45.2 N Lyon to Root, Loopy delivery outside off, turns in, Joe with an angled bat dabs it wide of his opposite number at first slip. Doesn't run. 93/4
45.1 N Lyon to Root, Outside off, spinning in just a touch, Root hangs back to stab it away. 93/4
Last over of the day coming up...
44.6 Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Harmless delivery to end the over. The English keeper ignores as it is well outside the line. 93/4
44.5 Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Makes him play by attacking the stumps. Jonny wrists this length ball towards square leg. 93/4
44.4 Pat Cummins to Bairstow, This one skids off the surface, it's at 141.3 clicks, nothing doing again says Bairstow. 93/4
44.3 Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Teases him by bowling it in the corridor of uncertainty, Jonny B has got nothing to do with that one. 93/4
44.2 Pat Cummins to Root, Angling in on middle, Joe tucks it through square leg for a single. 93/4
44.1 Pat Cummins to Root, Back of a length delivery, closer to off, Root rises on the toes to punch it through the line but gets an inside edge back on the track. 92/4
43.6 N Lyon to Bairstow, Loopy ball around off, Bairstow lunges forward to defend it into the ground. 92/4
43.5 N Lyon to Bairstow, Sees the line outside off so decides to pad it away. 92/4
43.4 N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker through the air, 92.6 kph, Jonny stays deep in the crease to keep it out. 92/4
43.3 N Lyon to Bairstow, Flattish ball on the stumps, Bairstow goes back in defense. 92/4
43.2 N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker one around off, turning back in from a shorter length, clipped towards short leg on the bounce. 92/4
43.1 N Lyon to Bairstow, Bowls it wider outside off, Bairstow plants his front foot across to pad it away but fails to do so. 92/4
Nathan Lyon is called back into the attack. Can he strike again? There is a discussion going on between Lyon, Hazlewood and Starc. Khawaja is waiting for the substitute fielder to get him a helmet. Short leg, silly point and a slip in place...
42.6 Pat Cummins to Root, Stands tall and taps this length ball to point to end the over. 92/4
42.5 Pat Cummins to Root, In the probing zone outside off, Joe makes an assured leave. 92/4
42.4 Pat Cummins to Root, Bangs in a short one on middle and off, Root lets it sail over him to the keeper. 92/4
42.3 Pat Cummins to Root, Similar length just like the previous ball, Root punches it nicely through cover and comes back for a brace. 92/4
42.2 Pat Cummins to Root, Tad short on middle and off, punched towards mid off. 90/4
42.1 Pat Cummins to Root, Back of a length delivery, from over the wicket, Root covers the line and defends. 90/4
Pat Cummins comes back into the attack.
41.6 S Smith to Bairstow, FOUR! Half-tracker and it's put away! Bairstow goes back and murders the pull to deep backward square leg to end the over with a boundary. 90/4
41.5 S Smith to Bairstow, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. 86/4
41.4 S Smith to Bairstow, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 86/4
41.3 S Smith to Bairstow, Flighted ball on off, smothered into the ground. 86/4
41.2 S Smith to Bairstow, Flatter one around middle and off, JB hangs back in defense. 86/4
41.1 S Smith to Root, Tossed up on off, driven through cover for a single. 86/4
40.6 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. 85/4
40.5 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Back of a length ball on middle, defended with a straight bat. 85/4
40.4 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Good length delivery, angling in, worked off the inner half towards mid on. 85/4
40.3 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. 85/4
40.2 J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, FOUR! Glorious! Fuller in length and outside off, wants Bairstow to go after it. The English keeper obliges and drives it sweetly to find the gap at cover. Third boundary of the English innings. 85/4
40.1 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Good length delivery on off, defended down. 81/4
39.6 S Smith to Root, Spinning down leg, Root misses his glance and so does the keeper to collect it. They look to steal a bye but Bancroft from short leg denies them. 81/4
39.5 S Smith to Root, Floated delivery around middle, defended down into the ground. 81/4
39.4 S Smith to Root, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. 81/4
39.3 S Smith to Root, Shorter in length, Root goes back and defends it towards short leg. 81/4
39.2 S Smith to Bairstow, Around middle and leg, flicked through the leg side for a single. 81/4
39.1 S Smith to Bairstow, Tossed up delivery going down leg, Bairstow looks to go back and tickle it away. Misses. 80/4
Steven Smith is here to bowl now.
38.6 J Hazlewood to Root, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. 80/4
38.5 J Hazlewood to Root, Angling in on middle, Joe tries to tuck it away but misses and is hit high on the thigh pad. 80/4
38.4 J Hazlewood to Root, Beaten! Hint of reverse there! Hazlewood hits it around off, it nips back in and stays low a bit. Root is undone by the lack of bounce and gets beaten all ends up. 80/4
Steven Smith is warming up. This is because he is looking to give some rest to Lyon who has bowled 17 overs on the trot..
38.3 J Hazlewood to Root, Shortish in length and outside off, cut straight to Lyon at backward point. 80/4
38.2 J Hazlewood to Root, Another bumper, this time it's well-directed, Root takes evasive action. 80/4
38.1 J Hazlewood to Root, Shortish delivery, angling in on middle and leg, Root moves inside the line and leaves it for the keeper. 80/4
37.6 N Lyon to Bairstow, Wide down the leg side, No trouble at all for the batsman. 80/4
37.5 N Lyon to Bairstow, Spinning down leg, Jonny lets it be. 80/4
37.4 N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow leans ahead and kills it. 80/4
37.3 N Lyon to Bairstow, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 80/4
37.2 N Lyon to Bairstow, Flighted ball on middle and off, defended off the front foot. 80/4
37.1 N Lyon to Root, Outside off, Root reaches out to that one and dabs it wide of Smith at first slip for one. 80/4
36.6 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Outside off, JB leaves it alone. 79/4
36.5 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. 79/4
36.4 J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, Shortish on off, cut again towards point. 79/4
36.3 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Edgyyy! Fuller in length and outside off, Bairstow looks to drive but gets it off the outer half past the man who is placed squarer at gully for a boundary. 79/4
36.2 J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Stands back and cuts it towards point for nothing. 75/4
36.1 J Hazlewood to Root, Flicked through the leg side for a single. 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 past Root. He waits at first and then all of a sudden sets off. Seeing this Root without even looking back starts to run. Hazlewood the man at mid off, picks up the ball and throws it at the striker's end but the English skipper 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 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 to it. Is it pad first or bat? Australians appeal and umpire after taking his time, raises the dreaded finger. 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 rightly so, Hawk Eye confirms the same. 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