Manchester: Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood (4/48) ripped through England with three crucial late wickets in the final session to leave Joe Root’s side trailing by 297 runs on 200-5 in their first innings after the third day of the fourth Ashes test Friday.
England still need 98 runs to avoid following on and that will be no formality after Josh Hazlewood undid so much of the good work from Rory Burns (81, 185, 9×4) and Joe Root (71, 168b, 10×4) earlier in the day.
The five-match series is standing at 1-1 and victory for Australia, who declared their first innings on 497-8, would ensure they retain the Ashes ahead of the final test at the Oval next week.
Heavy rain wiped out the entire morning session at Old Trafford and England quickly lost nightwatchman Craig Overton – who was caught by first innings double centurion Steve Smith at second slip off Josh Hazlewood.
The Burns-Root pairing put on 141 for the third wicket before Hazlewood removed Burns with a fine delivery that was edged to a gleeful Smith.
Burns had looked confident throughout an impressive innings in which he picked up his third score of fifty or over in this series, taking advantage of Australia’s over-reliance on short-pitched deliveries.
Burns showed great tenacity to deal with Pat Cummins, who received no reward for a 10-over spell where he combined hostility with spot-on line and length. The nearest Cummins came to a breakthrough was when Root edged him between keeper Paine and David Warner at first slip.
It was Hazlewood who got Root out — making it two wickets in 11 balls — rapping him on the pads with the England skipper’s dejected expression removing any need for a review.
Jason Roy, demoted from the opener slot, was joined by Ben Stokes and England badly needed a lengthy partnership from the two strokeplayers, but Hazlewood had other ideas.
The bowler removed Roy’s middle stump clean out of the ground with another delivery that nipped back off the seam and the jubilant response of the Australians in the field illustrated the significance of the wicket.
It was a devastating spell of 3-15 in 27 balls from the 28-year-old and one which will leave England, whose attack struggled to penetrate, wondering what bowler James Anderson might have been able to provide for them had he not been injured.
Brief scores: Australia 497 for 8 declared; England 200 for 5 (Rory Burns 81, Joe Root 71, Josh Hazlewood 4/48). Match to continue.
Agencies