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From Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
England’s hopes of rescuing the Ashes disappeared with the reduction of two wickets in the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford.
Faced with the possibility of having to bat for 30 minutes on Saturday night and the following 98 overs on Sunday, the home side saw Rory Burns and Joe Root leave to consecutive Pat Cummins deliveries.
By the next ball of their innings, Burns got a top edge to mid-off, whilst was bowled by a wonderful delivery which trimmed the bond.
Somehow, Joe Denly and Jason Roy obtained through another six overs as England closed on 18-2.
England earlier needed a revival thwarted by more runs from Steve Smith.
Their guide was 240, only for Smith to add 82 to his 211 After the tourists were decreased to 44-4, with Jofra Archer tearing in and Stuart Broad.
It enabled Australia set England 383 bat out the rest of the match, to win , more realistically and to announce on 186-6.
If they fail, holders Australia will be 2-1 up with one Test staying and assured of taking the urn back down below.
England have not batted through the final day of a Test to make a draw for at least six decades, however the pitch remains placid, even if there’s been the occasional indication of reduced bounce.
Somehow, Saturday in Old Trafford crammed in nearly all the topics from the Ashes series: batting slumps, wonderful new-ball bowling, Stuart Broad dismissing David Warner, the house audience taunting the Australians and, of course, Smith scoring runs.
The life seemed to have been sucked in the competition when England were bowled out for 301, providing a shortage of 196 up.
But it was ignited by the burst out of Broad and Archer that had England believing, Australia rocking along with the party stand – using its Teletubbies, umpires and Chelsea pensioners – whipped to a fervour.
The indomitable Smith appeared prevailed. If England could remove himthe door could have been available, yet he played with himself in against the shift bowling.
But, nothing could top the drama of Cummins’ magnificent original over, one that stunned England and left clinging grimly to the hopes of regaining the Ashes.
Hope remains. If England can somehow conquer the relentless Australia assault and create a heroic rearguard about the final afternoon, it would write a second chapter in this fascinating series and set up a grandstand finale at The Oval.
Broad has turned Warner into a wicket that is walking and has been magnificent throughout the series. It required six balls Broad to snare the left-hander lbw for his third successive duck, the first time he’s dismissed him in eight innings.
England were bowling a fuller period than from the first innings. Broad trapped Marcus Harris leg before and the enhanced Archer, his pace above 90mph, created Marcus Labuschagne the third lbw of the innings before uprooting Travis Head’s middle stump.
It was electrifying bowling, matched by the atmosphere, with Smith also bothered by Broad in particular.
But Craig Overton and Jack Leach couldn’t continue the pressure and Smith gained back control together with Matthew Wade at a stand of 105.
As Smith passed 50, you will find instances when he seemed to be poking fun at England, playing incredible strokes to reach the ball wherever he pleased.
Only in the drive for the announcement did he loft Leach into long-off and Australia known as time 37 runs afterwards.
By 200-5 immediately, get as near Australia’s first-innings 497-8 as you can and England’s mission would be to bat as long.
When Mitchell Starc took the second new ball, the plan was derailed. While Ben Stokes poked one to second slide an inswinger plus a firm-handed push at the ball led to the sight of Jonny Bairstow being sporadically.
Jos Buttler with the assistance of Leach, hauled before he was bowled carrying a swipe England a follow-on that Australia likely would not have enforced as well as briefly entertained due to his 41.
That could turn out to be the very first of three wickets in the space of five Cummins deliveries, although it wasn’t known at the time.
From the fading light, Burns finally got a ball out of his leg stump into mid-off fielder Head, then Root’s defensive stroke was beaten for his third duck and next first-baller of this series.
Roy pushed back the hat-trick ball and, like Denly, admirably came to attain the close.
Both men could be playing Sunday because of their Test futures. More to the point, they will bat to the Ashes.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special:”Smith revealed now he could play with any innings. He could up his tempo. He’s a wizard.
“This is a wonder at Headingley and it will take a miracle (for England) to survive the draw here. To confront that attack with this pitch today for 98 overs it will take an incredible innings – a Michael Atherton-style innings from all of those years ago back in Johannesburg.”
England coach Trevor Bayliss on TMS:”Anything is possible. We found that at the previous Test match.
“We spoke about the past week about who will put their hand up and be recalled. We are upbeat about what we may be able to accomplish tomorrow. We bat well, save the match and revel in a beer afterwards.
“We already had a conversation. Everyone is psyched to go out and function as a couple of guys who go out and score a hundred.”
Australia bowler Pat Cummins on Sky Sports:”Not one of us anticipated the innings Smithy went outside with – that was unbelievable. Smithy was unbelievable although we would have been happy to get though.
“I’m feeling OK. 1 large final push tomorrow then a few days rest before The Oval.”
Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath on TMS:”Australia may have been a little shaky at 44-4 but Steve Smith comes out and rights the ship just a little bit.
“The two early wickets make a huge impact. England need to show some struggle if they are not going to get rid of this match ”
Analysis and comment from the BBC’s cricket correspondent.

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