Senior batter Joe Root displayed his intentions clearly on the fourth day by playing aggressively and forging a quick 50-run partnership with Ollie Pope in just 47 deliveries. As the game progressed, Pope departed after a decent start, but Harry Brook ensured that the momentum did not wane. Root and Brook then combined for a 52-run partnership in 49 balls, driving England’s innings forward.
Unfortunately for the hosts, both batters fell just four runs short of their respective half-centuries before the Lunch break. After the break, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow took charge and steadied the ship with a 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket. However, the departure of Stokes, who scored a valuable 43 runs, triggered a flurry of wickets for England at regular intervals.
Bairstow and Moeen Ali got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. Lower-order batter Ollie Robinson contributed crucial runs, pushing England’s lead past the 250-run mark. With some late-order resistance, England managed to swell their lead to 281 runs, giving themselves a fighting chance to win the game.
The Australian bowlers performed admirably in the second innings, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon impressively claiming four wickets each. Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green chipped in with one wicket apiece, contributing to England’s batting collapse.
Australia’s bowlers have set up an achievable target for their batsmen. The Australian team will be looking for a solid start from their openers as they aim to chase down the total and secure victory in this gripping Test match.
With only two higher successful chases in Test cricket history, the Australians understand the magnitude of the task ahead. Graeme Smith‘s brutal assault on Monty Panesar in 2008 and the astonishing display by the Yorkshire team against India last summer serve as reminders that such feats are rare but not impossible. However, the looming threat of rain tomorrow adds another layer of uncertainty to the already finely balanced contest.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
ALL OUT
We finish our second innings on, setting Australia need
to win.
Enter stage right, James Anderson & Stuart Broad#EnglandCricket | #Ashes
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2023
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.