ADELAIDE (AFP) – Joe Root fell within the remaining over of the fourth day on Sunday (Dec 19) to depart England in serious trouble at 82 for 4 chasing an enormous 468 to win the second Ashes Take a look at, needing a history-making miracle to keep away from slumping 2-0 down within the collection.
No crew has ever posted such a giant rating in a fourth innings to win within the historical past of Take a look at cricket – with the West Indies’ 418 for seven in beating Steve Waugh’s Australia at St John’s in 2003 the best.
It’s a fair tougher activity on the Adelaide Oval, the place Australia’s 315 for six to defeat England in 1902 stays the most effective fourth-innings run chase.
England’s issues stem from being bowled out, after a batting collapse, for 236 on Saturday in reply to Australia’s 473 for 9 declared.
They reached the shut on day 4 with ailing skipper Root out within the final over of the day, leaving Ben Stokes not out three.
England are nonetheless 386 runs adrift, going through the close to unimaginable activity of batting out three periods on the ultimate day to salvage a draw with solely six wickets remaining and the world’s No. 1-ranked Take a look at batsman again within the pavilion.
The hosts resumed their second innings at 45 for one and declared on 230 for 9 halfway by means of the second session, giving their bowlers a crack at England with the pink ball as twilight loomed.
They instantly made inroads with Jhye Richardson steaming in to Haseeb Hameed and the ball flying off his glove to wicketkeeper Alex Carey with out scoring.
Dawid Malan, who hit 80 within the first innings, was dropped by Steve Smith, however solely lasted three extra balls earlier than debutant Michael Neser trapped him lbw for 20.
Opener Rory Burns was determined for a giant rating after a lean spell and managed 34, however was then crushed by Richardson’s sheer tempo, edging to Smith at slip.
Root damage his stomach throughout a warm-up that noticed him miss the opening 85 minutes whereas he went for a scan.
He appeared largely untroubled whereas batting however late within the day took a nasty blow in the identical space from Mitchell Starc that left him writhing on the bottom in agony.
