Ashes 2017/18 - Adelaide Day 4 - England Fighting, But Surely Too Late?

What a day's cricket. If ever there was a day to prove what a great spectacle Test cricket can be, Day 4 in Adelaide was that day. The game is still very much in Australia's favour but England have finally shown the fight that the Barmy Army and all supporters have been asking for. In typically British fashion, the feeling of elation at England's fightback is only matched by the infuriating knowledge that they have this ability but don't seem to use it to get on top in the first place.

Knowing that they needed to bowl Australia out cheaply to stand any chance of getting a result, James Anderson in particular came out firing and picked up where he left off the previous evening. Sideways movement through the air or off the pitch will challenge the greatest of batsmen and so it proved. With just the third ball of the day, England thought they had Peter Handscomb caught at slip. Aleem Dar gave him out, and he correctly reviewed, the ball flying off his shoulder. Shortly after, Stuart Broad showed England's own intent with a very well directed short-ball which Nathan Lyon wore flush on the grille. As much as there has been a lot of niggle in this series between the sides, it was good to see Stuart Broad immediately go to check on Lyon's well-being.

England's aggression bore fruit; Lyon shaken and out soon after, Handscomb trying to make room but guiding to slip, and Tim Paine over-zealous in attempting to pull Woakes out of the ground could only find the very safe hands of Craig Overton, who took a splendid catch running in from Fine Leg. At 90-7, England's foot was beginning to put pressure on Australia's throat. From that position, Australia got to 138 all out, something of a mini-fightback of their own. Somewhat surprisingly, this was James Anderson's first 5-wicket haul on Australian soil and boy, did England need it. Even with that effort, England have to score 354 to level the series which would be a record chase at Adelaide Oval. Records are there to be broken.

Lady luck would need to shine on the tourists for them to have even the slightest chance, and with the score on a single run Hazlewood came around the wicket and crashed one into the pads of Alastair Cook. Incredibly, it wasn't given, even more incredibly Steve Smith chose not to review and Hawk-Eye showed the ball to be uprooting leg stump. Cook's fortune could also be England's glimmer. As the opening stand passed fifty, the former England Captain looked to be finding his old form even though he was only on 16, facing Nathan Lyon he looked to turn one into the leg side, was beaten and hit on the pads again but not given. This time, Smith used his review. This time, Smith got it right. Cook was gone, a few overs later and so was Stoneman; caught low by Khawaja at gully. 

The expected collapse was on the cards as darkness fell across South Australia, James Vince tamely edging to first slip as England fell to 91-3. Joe Root and Dawid Malan showed us there was light in this series with a magnificent partnership deep into the evening as Australia were rattled, wasting both of their reviews and watching the English pair roll the scoreboard over with ease and regularity. Plenty of verbals were apparent, and those who could bear Channel 9's commentary team would have heard Shane Warne (one of the better ones, to be fair) mused that a batting side would be delighted to see a fielding side acting like that as it shows you've got on top of them.

As the game drifted towards the close, only Pat Cummins appeared to have any kind of desire in his eyes rather than trepidation. He produced THE perfect delivery from around the wicket to a left-hander, beating Malan for pace and clattering the top of off stump. 169-4 in the bowler friendly evening conditions, Australia had an opening as Chris Woakes came to the crease. A night-watchman coming out at night, something this new format has brought to the fore. 20 minutes of nerves, determination and quite thrilling theatre to get through. England managed it, finishing the day on 176-4 with a further 178 to get. 

If you are in the Adelaide area, get down to the Adelaide Oval on Day 5. A gold coin donation is all that is required to enter the ground to witness what promises to be a series-defining moment. Either England will break a record to level the series, or Australia will go 2-0 up and all but secure the Ashes.

My gut feeling is that this one is just beyond England. We have seen England fight before and come up short, and with that late wicket of Dawid Malan the tourists only have 6 wickets to protect. For England to come out on top, Joe Root needs to bat through and score 150-plus, Woakes needs to hang around and get 30-40, Ali and Bairstow need to get scores and not rely on Overton or the tail. Australia will take the rest overnight, come out fresh and firing in the morning. Nathan Lyon will be a handful on the final day, as will the pacemen. The longer England can keep them out there and bowling, the better their chances become. Australia should go 2-0 up here, but it would be great for the series and Test cricket if they prove me wrong.