England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

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Well done to Scott Boland, a very tidy job and added precious runs.

Another fantastic day in a fantastic test in a fantastic rivalry in a fantastic sport. Fantastic.

And just as the pattern has been throughout, when one team looked to be taking control, it just got yanked back. And it was Broad yanking it back with a brilliant spell. Labuschagne is the new Warner, as far as Broad's concerned.

174 to get. Seven wickets left. Still favouring Australia, but it'll be interesting to see how the bowling conditions are after the expected rain tomorrow. If they're anything close to what England's top order had to face yesterday, it could be curtains for Australia, but I'm not anticipating it to be that bad.

Will almost certainly be a delayed start. Hopefully the BBC's more pessimistic forecast doesn't come to fruition.

It'll probably go to the wire, that's the way the whole test has been shaping up. Might even be a tied test...

Khawaja passes 500 balls faced in the match. Yes, it's been flat. Yes, the Aussies have arguably had a decent run of conditions even batting second. He's still been absolutely exceptional though. Wickets falling around him in both innings he's just held this Aussie team together. When we look back to T1 during T5 we may just think about how these vigils put overs into England primary 3 seamers legs early doors.

Just as it feels like England are playing to have runs in hand for the second new ball Stokes starts warming up. He's not usually one to keep it tight!

Stokes at last. Praying for no no balls , legs not collapsing , and one of those magic balls...

Still 77 needed but it feels we need this next wicket very soon. Although they did take the last four for about 14 on Sunday

Get in!

Khwaja bowled by who else but Stokes.

He has the knack of getting crucial wickets.

You have to admire Khawaja. Slow but he's held two innings together. Does he ever get tired and careless ?

One thing a bit odd is that I don't think England have had even a hopeful lbw shout in this innings. Anything hitting the pads has been clearly leg side. You'd have thought at least one ball might have kept low and straight on day five

But played on will do !

Stokes

Who else but golden arm

Stokes' golden arm! And another drag on on a slow pitch. Khawaja, too, it's like Ponting going at Old Trafford in 2005.

Australia well adrift at the moment. Just think they haven't been positive enough. Haven't rotated the strike often enough, though England's fielding has been top-notch in the last few overs.

Carey and Cummins have to counter-attack. They won't get there poking around.

8 over to the new ball, Carey's got to play the shots now you'd think.

The importance of good fielding highlighted by that dismissal. If Pope doesn't save that boundary then Khawaja isn't on strike.

OK , there's the wall knocked down. Great innings , by the way

Captain Pat in. He's no mug. Still need 72 and you'd think these two will have to make most of them. But in this match , who knows ?

Root getting spin. Reckon he might have a wicket in him ? Think these two will attack him , so things might get a bit lively now...

England have a hopeful LBW shout, now! Thought it was doing too much, and DRS confirms so.

More great fielding from England to deny Carey a boundary the ball after.

And then Root, technically, spills a caught and bowled. But a hard chance at that pace. Carey going for it.

If Carey is dismissed, do Australia put up the barricades and try for a Cardiff-esque draw?

Soul Requiem wrote:The importance of good fielding highlighted by that dismissal. If Pope doesn't save that boundary then Khawaja isn't on strike.

Good point. Over the match you'd say Australia have edged the fielding honours ; but in this last session it is another vital element. Especially if the Aussies start to play a lot of shots...

Oh rats ! An lbw shout at last ...but just missing . Was worth the review then , I think.

Cary wants to go after Root. And he drops a c & b !

Was a hot one but he'd want to take that... This isn't going easily...

Close again ! Carey nearly plays on. Riding his luck a bit...

Four overs to a new ball.

Jaysus, this is tight....

Both bats playing shots ...some a bit wild. Few balls falling safely but not quite where intended ...still important runs.

63 more. Seems quite a lot . But a few boundaries...

WINVIZ has England hot favourite. But I'm not counting any chickens. This match has had too many twists.

Bet no one has gone home yet !

Another tight caught and bowled chance, even tougher than the first, not sticking to Root's hand.

These two just beginning to score. The odd boundary and good strike rotation, which Australia haven't done enough of today.

One more for Stokes before the new ball. Broad has been saved for the new ball burst.

Hi alfie,

I think that winviz has the draw at only 1%... I still think a draw is on here, probably 25%.

So 54 to win, 3 wickets left as England take the new ball. Think if you'd offered England this scenario at the start of play they'd have taken it

Does Broad have one more spell on him

Joe Root, you superstar

Inspired choice not to take the new ball!

Going to need that new ball. Broad to wrap things up ? He's had a good rest I'm glad to say.

Stokes did a good job then but time to hand over to the regulars...

54 runs needed. Root having one more over though. Hmm. He is getting spin. Just can't snare an edge.

But he can get a c& b !!! You beauty, Joe

Inspired decision to defer the new rock for an over

Here we go, the second new ball and a refreshed Broad. Side-effect is of course it will go off the bat quicker.

54 to get. 17 overs to go. Three wickets.

No rain on the radar, now. And I'm a bit premature, because Root's getting another over with the old ball.

And he strikes! Third time's the charm with those caught and bowled chances. Carey, too. England on the victory road after a long fight.

What do the Aussies do? Go for glory, or try to defend for 16 and a bit overs? Both options seem unlikely.

And England keeping on with the old ball, which is fair enough.

Think they'll keep going for it. Tortoise has turned into a Hare since Cummins came in.

Stokes continues with that old ball for now. Still 15 overs to play after this one.

Couldn't get more of a classic finish , could we ?

Aussies are doing one wicket better in this chase than in 2005, if they want some grounds for optimism.

But surely England can't lose it from here?

One over too long with the old ball

Cummins is going to play clearly

Probably did go one over too long with it, but I don't mind that too much. Cummins' two sixes making it close again.

Have to take the new ball now. And indeed they do.

Gotta be broad at Lyon now surely

Ouch. One too many overs Joe Root

Game back in the balance !

Nearly ! Stokes all but held on to a miracle catch...

This frenzied stuff is going Australia's way. Getting a sinking feeling ...what a differenc e two overs makes !

Wow, Stokes nearly pulls off the catch of the series. Like Simon Jones, 18 years ago, but a bit tougher. Might as well find Billy Bowden and rerun 2005!

And Cummins finds the rope later with a brilliant shot. Down to 30...

Can you believe there's people who don't like this sport?

Nearly brilliance from Stokes in the field.

Then a four.

Surely new ball now...

Why didn't he take the new ball ?

Robinson's turn. Still the old ball...

.???

Unless you think the new ball will fly to the boundary but England haven't played scared

eirebilly_01 wrote:Hi alfie,

I think that winviz has the draw at only 1%... I still think a draw is on here, probably 25%.

It certainly isn't now

I can only think it's concern of the ball coming off the bat quicker but the pitch being so dead it might not rush them much more?

GSC wrote:Unless you think the new ball will fly to the boundary but England haven't played scared

The ball is flying to the boundary anyways!

Absolute nonsense decision I am afraid. You’re telling me with an hour under lights, Broad/Robinson/Anderson aren’t better with a new rock bowling traditionally. Total awful captaincy this

Cummins getting an easy two from a tap because of how far back the field is.

Didn't actually clock England hadn't taken the new ball until a couple of balls into Broad's over! But they get it in their hands now.

I don't mind the odd short ball to Lyon, but fast, full and straight is good for most tailenders.

GSC wrote:Unless you think the new ball will fly to the boundary but England haven't played scared

The old one has flown a bit lately !

I think they have to take it. A number ten at the crease ? Wonder how Hazlewood is feeling ?

Come on Stuart Broad. This is made for you , surely. New ball now...have they left it too late ?

Duty281 wrote:Cummins getting an easy two from a tap because of how far back the field is.

Didn't actually clock England hadn't taken the new ball until a couple of balls into Broad's over! But they get it in their hands now.

I don't mind the odd short ball to Lyon, but fast, full and straight is good for most tailenders.

Agreed ! Mix it up . But if you're too good for Smith and Labuschagne on a day wouldn't you fancy Lyon ?

Trouble is , the number ten can't get a blasted edge !

Talk about knife edge.

Aussies back to favourites with the bookmakers as Lyon crunches a drive for four, surviving a couple of play and misses in between.

Wonder if Anderson will get any go at the end? He took the winning wicket at Trent Bridge 10 years ago. Has looked a little less fearsome in this test, fair to say!

I can't cope.

Duty281 wrote:Aussies back to favourites with the bookmakers as Lyon crunches a drive for four, surviving a couple of play and misses in between.

Wonder if Anderson will get any go at the end? He took the winning wicket at Trent Bridge 10 years ago. Has looked a little less fearsome in this test, fair to say!

Too much chance now to call odds . Two balls can do it.

But under twenty so Australia must reckon they're nearly home. I'm afraid England haven't quite got the tactics right here - though to be fair there's a lot of luck in this .

Think Broad has to do it this over or it's gone...

That's it Australia will win from here, valiant effort from England though.

Not a good over that from Robinson, a tired one, and with Crawley making a hash of one near the rope, it's just 16 to go now.

Do England dare give Root a go with the new ball, after this one from Broad?

England still ahead on WinViz...not sure I agree. Personally I think WinViz is a load of garbage.

Robinson understandably looking tired. Time to give Jimmy one final whirl?

Ahhh, Broad beats the edge again. Just doesn't feel like it for England in the last half-hour, so many near-misses.

Wouldn't like to be Hazlewood right now!

Got to have some catchers for Lyon , surely ? Everyone on the boundary just isn't going to do it.

They've gone away from their plan and it's costing them.

14 more. Agony.

Hope Robinson has two magic balls - no pun intended!

I'm watching this on a train to Fort William with a hotspot that keeps cutting out. I look like a madman.

Sport is silly. Let's pick something at very young age to follow obsessively and just accept that it dictates your mental health.

Hard to see two wickets falling now. Though if one went down things might get a bit tense !

Over to you again , Stuart...