Third Ashes Test, Adelaide Oval (Day 4 of five)
Australia 371: Carey 106; Archers 5-53 &349： Head 170; tongue 4-70
England 286: Stokes 83; Bolan 3-45 & 207-6: Crowley 85; Cummins 3-24
Australia need four wickets to retain Ashes
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scorecard
Australia’s Nathan Lyon broke England’s resistance late on day four of the third Test in Adelaide, with England on the verge of an Ashes series defeat.
Trailing Lyon took the reverse sweep of Harry Brooke, bowled to Ben Stokes and, most importantly, had Zac Crawley tripping the home side to within striking distance of the urn.
Crawley scored an impressive 85 but when he was tempted by a frantic Lyon, England fell short of the nominal target of 435 at 194-6.
Australia return on Sunday needing another four wickets to lead 3-0 after three Tests, retain the Ashes after just 11 days of cricket and win their fourth consecutive home series against England.
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Lyon’s intervention – with England scoring 17 runs and conceding three wickets in six overs – came after the visitors finally showed a willingness to adapt their Bazballing approach.
It’s a recognition of the situation and the recognition that some players, including Crawley, are fighting for their futures and reputations.
Stokes returned to bowling with seven overs from the start of the match as the tourists took the last six Australian wickets for 349 runs in the second innings to dismiss the hosts by 38 runs.
Travis Head shot 170 and Alex Carey shot 72. Josh Tongue shot 4-70 and Brydon Carse shot 3-80.
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When Ben Duckett was eliminated in the first over of England’s chase and Ollie Pope was in serious danger of being dropped from the fourth Test after falling behind by 17, the end of the four-day match looked likely to be over.
Then came Crawley’s defiant display, ended by Lyon’s genius.
too little, too late
Was England’s performance on day four in Adelaide a welcome epiphany that their previous over-aggression was a mistake, or a frustrating revelation that they were always capable of playing this way?
Even though England adopted an orthodox Test batting approach, they eventually succumbed to a ruthless Australian side.
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Duckett’s breakdown in form was shocking – he scored a series-high 29 points in the opener.
Pope may have considered himself unlucky as he was bowled by a stunning one-handed catch from Marnus Labuschagne at second slip, but it was another defeat against Australia.
Pope played 16 Ashes innings and averaged 17.62. Since 1900, only one other England player, Dennis Amiss, has bowled as many Ashes bats in the top six, but at a lower average.
Crawley, Joe Root and Brooke all used the reverse sweep successfully against Lyon until Brooke was hit. Although the stroke was logical, it looked ugly, and what followed made it worse.
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As the total Test crowd surpassed 200,000 (a record at Adelaide Oval), performer Lyon had an expectant crowd in the palm of his hand.
Jamie Smith and Will Jacks somehow survived to the close – the inevitable delay.
crawling crowley
Several England players are struggling to complete the series, let alone be part of the post-Ashes rebuild. Crawley, who has often been the subject of scrutiny at the highest levels, has inserted himself into the conversation to be part of England’s future.
A record of 31-2 suggested England had capitulated, but Crawley produced the grittiest knock of his 62-Test career.
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The man from Kent scored 78 runs with Root and 68 runs with Brooke. He left well and played solid defense. It took him 102 balls to get past 50 balls, the second slowest half-century in his Test career.
Pat Cummins ended the game in the crucial moment after tea and dropped Root, the 13th time the Australia captain had dismissed the Yorkshireman in Test cricket – no other bowler has done so so often. Root screamed in frustration as he left for 39 runs.
Brooke backed up his 45 with a careful 30 off 56 balls in the first innings, apart from a try-sault by Scott Boland. Lyon struggled on the turn of the pitch until Brooke delivered the gift and despite the effectiveness of the shot, this dismissal will certainly attract criticism.
That opened the door for Australian spinners and Crawley’s departure was a blow.
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England’s battle starts with the ball
England are likely to face two Tests on the pitch as Australia resume at 271-4 with the home team attacking at will. Instead, the visitors deserve praise for the fight they showed early on Saturday.
Stokes did not bowl on the third day and the skipper immediately took the ball on the fourth morning, raising concerns about Stokes’ fitness.
Although Stokes was nervous, Kars scored 26 runs in three overs, giving way to Tonge, who lured Hyde into a slip at deep square leg to Crawley.
England surged with the second new ball after Stokes had Carey caught in a clever slip-leg trap and tongue found the edge of Josh Inglis.
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Kase had Cummins at slip, giving Lyon a run of LBW passes before Jofra Archer did well to contain Bolan in the ensuing over.