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Two brilliant sessions for the England team gave some respite to Joe Root and his men as England are at 220/2 at stumps on Day 3 at the Gabba with just 58 runs behind. Skipper Root and Dawid Malan looked solid after the pair shared an unbeaten partnership of 159 run-stand for the third wicket. Root scored 80 not out while Malan was standing at 86.
Day 3 started with Australia on 343/7 and Travis Head on 112. The hosts added 82 for the loss of three wickets. Head scored 152 off just 148 deliveries and helped his side to secure a formidable lead of 278 runs. The 27-year old left-handed batter reached his 150 with a boundary against Jack Leach. Head's innings included 15 fours and four sixes. It also took Leach beyond 100 runs which he conceded in 12.1 overs.
England openers tried to fight and find a rock-hard reply but it took 126 balls for the lethal Aussie pacers to dismiss both the English openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins took the first wicket of Rory Burns after a slightly back of the length delivery surprised the 31-year old batsman. Burns wanted to play the cut shot but could not time it properly and the ball ended up touching the bottom glove on its way through.
After that, Mitchell Starc’s short ball did the trick to dismiss the other opener Hameed. Starc’s delivery just tickled the glove and went to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
It was followed by Joe Root and Dawid Malan’s super batting display. They came together to bat at 61 for 2 with England 207 runs behind.
Having made a duck in the first innings, the world number one Test batter exhibited a gritty batting show and might well have succeeded in silencing his critics who were disgruntled with his decision to bat first and keep James Anderson and Stuart Broad out of the squad.
On day 4, all eyes will surely be on Root-Malan duo but there will be another player who had to suffer a distressful wait on Day 3 for his 400th Test wicket – off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The Aussie spinner bowled 24 overs but failed to pick even a single wicket.
