TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Joe Root was stumped for the first time in his Test career, while Ollie Pope’s second innings struggles continued
- Australia ended day four of the first Ashes Test 107-3, chasing 281 for victory
- The momentum ebbed-and-flowed throughout on a fascinating day of action
- An inspired spell from Stuart Broad helped England fight back with the ball
It was another pulsating day of Ashes cricket on Monday with the first Test all set for a blockbuster finish.
Starting the day on 28-2, England were regularly pegged back by a relentless Australia attack as they ended up 273 all out, meaning Australia require 281 runs to win.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner got off to a fine start in response, before Ollie Robinson picked up the all important breakthrough.
Stuart Broad then delivered a fine spell as he got rid of danger men Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to leave Australia 107-3, requiring another 174 runs to win on the final day, while England need seven wickets.
Below, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH provides the big stats from the fourth day.
Day four of the first Ashes Test didn’t disappoint as it ebbed-and-flowed throughout
Australia finished on 107-3, requiring another 174 to win while England need seven wickets
Only once have Australia successfully chased more in the fourth innings to win a Test in England: at Headingley in 1948, they made 404 for three, with Arthur Morris making 182 and Don Bradman 178 not out.
Joe Root has hit five sixes in this Test – doubling his Ashes tally in his 30th match against Australia.
For the first time in his 131-Test career, Root was out stumped. Only West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul made more runs than Root’s 11,168 before his first stumping: 11,414. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene made 11,814 without ever being stumped.
Joe Root hit five sixes in this match before being stumped for the first time in his Test career
Only West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul made more runs than Root’s 11,168 before his first stumping (pictured)
After Ollie Pope was brilliantly yorked by Pat Cummins for 14, his second-innings average in Tests dropped to 16, with a lone 50 from 28 innings. In the first innings, he averages 48, with four hundreds and 10 fifties.
Alex Carey’s nine dismissals equals the most in an Ashes Test – by four other Australians: Gil Langley (Lord’s 1956), Rod Marsh (Brisbane 1982-83), Ian Healy (Brisbane 1994-95), Adam Gilchrist (Sydney 2006-07). The most by an England wicketkeeper is eight by Alec Stewart at Old Trafford in 1997.
Carey had managed only two stumpings in his previous 20 Tests, but has pulled off three here – the first time a wicketkeeper has managed three stumpings in an Ashes Test since Alan Knott at Headingley in 1968.
Jimmy Anderson reached double figures in a Test for the first time in 29 innings, stretching back to Ahmedabad in March 2021.
Ollie Pope’s second innings struggles continued, with the batter averaging just 16 the second time around compared to 48 in the first innings
Alex Carey’s nine dismissals equals the most in an Ashes Test – by four other Australians
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