Ashes finale on knife-edge as England need more Root magic vs Australia

Plenty will be needed from Joe Root with both bat and ball in what remains of what is now a single innings shootout at the end of this compelling Ashes battle. But the former England captain has already done more than most to set up this suitably gripping series finale with two champagne moments bookending Australia’s reply on day two.

The tourists, seeking a first Ashes win here since 2001, finished the day bowled out for 295, a lead of 12 runs, after Ben Stokes relayed a catch to himself on the long on boundary off Root’s bowling to dismiss Pat Cummins.

Yet it was a breathtaking catch from the former England captain at first slip which had started the ball rolling on a day when Australiia’s deliberate go-slow had threatened to kill off English hopes.

As good as Stokes’s catch was, cutting off a wagging tail that added 90 for the last three wickets and avoided Australia facing what had looked likely would be a significant first innings deficit, Root’s grab was the singular highlight of the day.

Broad had attempted to break Labuschagne’s concentration switching the bails around the delivery before – something which is supposed to bring luck. There was no luck about his dismissal the very next ball, a 92mph Wood rocket set to bypass a static Jonny Bairstow only for Root to save all blushes with a left hand grab which plucked the ball like a chameleon’s tongue as it flew between them.

That wicket was the only one to fall in a morning session in which Australia’s progress was best described as funereal. By lunch the match had ‘moved on’ to the tune of 54-1 in 26 overs – Test cricket from the dark ages for those reared on Bazballing.

If it was slow – Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne blocking and failing even to rotate the strike – there was some method in their stately progress. England’s rapid run-rate had meant Australia’s bowlers spent two balls fewer than 55 overs in the field whereas Stokes’s attack had bowled 103 at the close.

That could have a bearing in the final innings of this match particularly given Moeen Ali may not contribute anything with the ball following his groin strain.

If Australia were happy to let Stokes’s bowlers beat their heads against a wall for as long as possible, England emerged from lunch refreshed and fired and in the first over following the break they removed Khawaja. One brought two with Broad grabbing both the opener and Travis Head.

James Anderson finally joined the party removing Mitch Marsh, an inside edge which rattled the all-rounder’s stumps. Then Root had Alex Carey caught at cover to get the tourists rocking.

When Mitch Starc fell to Wood, top-edging to Ben Duckett at backward square Australia were still trailing by 98 and staring at a significant deficit. But Steve Smith and Pat Cummins counter-attacked effectively after tea.

England thought they had the former run out when he was on 43, with sub fielder George Ealham channelling his inner Gary Pratt and firing in a sharp return, with Smith making his ground by millimetres or not depending on which freeze frame you wanted to believe.

Smith added a further 28 of his own in a partnership of 54 with Cummins before Chris Woakes had him caught behind. But it was a 49-run partnership between Cummins and Todd Murphy, who hooked three sixes and hit two fours in a boisterous 34, which caused greater pain.

Stokes’ catch, tossing up the ball and regathering inside the rope, stopped another and ended proceedings three minutes early. In a match and series of such fine margins not a moments too soon.