Australia are on their way to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes 2021-22 as they need six more wickets to win the pink-ball Test. Chasing a mammoth target of 468 runs, England lost four wickets on Day 4 for 82 runs. The day’s play ended with the crucial wicket of England skipper Joe Root who scored a half-century in the first innings. It is highly unlikely that Ben Stokes will pull of a Headingley at the Adelaide Oval with 386 more runs to win on the last day.
Starting the day on 45/1, the hosts lost three wickets after adding just 10 runs to the board. Nightwatchman Michael Neser fell to veteran James Anderson whereas Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson got rid of opener Marcus Harris and skipper Steve Smith respectively. From 55/4, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head got the innings back on track. Both Labuschagne and Head scored 51 each and helped Australia practically rule out an England win.
After two disappoint scores, Cameron Green chipped in with an unbeaten 33-run knock to extend the lead. Returning to field after scans, skipper Joe Root rolled his arm as well getting the wickets of left-handed batters Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. During the innings, Robinson bowled a few overs of off-spin as well. However, he did not get a wicket.
Chasing 468, England got off to a horrible start as it took Jhye Richardson just six deliveries to get read of opener Haseeb Hameed. Under-fire Rory Burns showed some grit with a 34-run knock off 95 deliveries. Burns and Dawid Malan tried to keep England on track but the half-centurion of first innings was dismissed by Neser for 20.Richardson got the second wicket extending Burns’ poor run.
Skipper Root had some problems in the middle as Starc came round the wicket and hit him in the box. The 30-year-old got some medical attention and was back on his feet. Just minutes before the end of day’s play Starc troubled Root again and got him out caught behind. Stokes survived the last session and scored just three runs after facing 40 deliveries. He would look for support from middle-order batters and tailenders to salvage a draw in the second Test.
