2nd Test Day 4: Another 'Unwinnable' Test Heads Into Last Day of Possibility

The momentum shift that began with England at 7/142 on the third day swung even further to the visitors on day four as they fought like a team that had something to prove and a grudge to bear to stay in a match that they had no right to still be competing in. While it is conceivable that the luck had begun to swing in England’s favour, the fact that Australia was doing itself absolutely no favours in the way it was playing left them in the uncomfortable position that England are still a chance to level this series 1-1 on the fifth day, and every stride they had taken in a positive direction at the start of the Test has now almost evaporated.

In many ways, that Australia managed to scrape together a total of 138 in their second innings having started the day at 4/53 was probably quite fortunate. England bowled well with a ball that kept moving in the air and off the seam. Though he was unable to get a wicket, Broad hurried proceedings onwards by striking Nathan Lyon in his helmet, and caused a change of tactics from the batsman that saw him hole out the following over. Handscomb’s technique has been found out and exploited, and it was too much to expect a repeat performance from marsh and Paine to again save Australia. England was clinical and what’s more, on top, despite the eventual margin to cross for victory being over 350 runs. Their bowlers showed exactly why they expected to do well in the day/night Test atmosphere by using the conditions available to them to perfection. It should act as a warning to Australian cricket authorities. If they continue down the path of day/night Test cricket, they will throw away completely the home advantage Australia has over England. By offering up seaming and swinging conditions – conditions that Englishmen thrive and grow in – then it will tip the balance in every Ashes series, home or away, to the English team. Something to consider I would have thought.

England’s response was positive. Cook hung in, Stoneman started brightly. A fifty opening partnership was exactly what they wanted. The Australians were not moving the ball anywhere near the amount that their opponents did, and by the time the lights came on they had an old ball which did not respond the same way as the new ball had the previous evening. At 3/93 Australia may have been pleased, but Malan and Root dug in, fought hard, had a little fortune, but gave the belief they could still win this game.

Australia squandered their opportunities, and wasted reviews like they were a renewable energy. The missed review against Cook early was exacerbated by two wasted reviews in an over in the evening, leaving Australia with no reviews for the remainder of the innings, and now they are at the mercy of the umpires verdicts, and both Dar and Gaffney seem to have lost confidence in their own decision making given the number of overrules they have faced in this Test. The Australians obvious frustration is like gold to the English team, but even more so to their supporters. The barmy Army has come completely to life and is dominating the crowd, while on social media the old firm are all coming together to support their team and mock the home team.

Back to the reality of the match, and England has erased half of the deficit they faced when they started their innings. They have lost four of their top order in the process, but are fortunate not only to still have their skipper at the crease to guide the chase, but Moeen and Bairstow to come who are capable of not only scoring runs, but scoring them quickly. Australia will not want them coming to the crease with the scores much closer together than they already are. Australia will have a new ball in 18 overs, but they once again will not have one under lights. In fact, the match will be almost over before they night session is reached, one way or the other. What will Australia’s tactics be? Will they be short? Will they be up? Will they look to cut down the runs?

England had two and a half good days in Brisbane and lost by ten wickets. Australia had two and a half good days in Adelaide, and are in danger of losing a Test that should probably already be over in their favour. Day Five will be a long and tense day for everyone, players and supporters alike. There is no doubt that an England win would be electrifying for the series, leaving it 1-1 going to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The English would be riding a tidal wave of confidence if they did, and Australia would be devastated. Even an Australian victory and a 2-0 lead, would still find England heading to Perth believing they can still retain the Ashes by at least drawing the series. The odds are still very much in Australia’s favour to win the 2nd Test. But records are meant to be broken, and any Australian who hasn’t got the Tests against South Africa some years ago in their head, where the visitors batted for almost two days to draw in Adelaide, and chased 414 to win in Perth by six wickets, should look those results up. This isn’t the foregone conclusion that defending 350 in the fourth innings used to be.