Published: Aug 08, 2015, 04:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 08, 2015, 04:50 PM (IST)
England decimate Australia by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Ashes 2015 Test at Trent Bridge. The have regained the urn having taken an unassailable 3-1 lead with one more match to go. England needed just three wickets to win going into Day Three, whereas Australia needed 90 runs to make England bat again. Australia however failed to do so and as a result have suffered a huge loss. Adam Voges was the lone fighter for Australia on Day Three with a half-century. David Warner and Chris Rogers too had scored fifties on Day Two and the duo put on 113 for the first wicket of the second innings, which was the only highlight of the match for the visitors. Full updates: England vs Australia, 4th Ashes 2015 Test, Day 3
Australia made a pathetic start to the match after they were bundled out for just 60 in the first innings in 18.3 Overs. Stuart Broad picked up career best figures of 8 for 15 to destroy Australia. England through a century by Joe Root and a superb half century from Jonny Bairstow ensured England finished the first day of the Test with over 200-run lead. England further consolidated their lead on Day Two, but Root was dismissed for 130 and England after piling on the runs had finally declared on 391 for 9, with a lead of 331. Skipper Alastair Cook, not known to make such declarations surprised everyone with his decision but it is turned out to be an excellent decision. Full scorecard: England vs Australia, 4th Ashes 2015 Test, Day 3
Despite a century stand for the opening wicket between Rogers and Warner, the middle-order failed to capitalise on it and lost wickets in a hurry after the opening partnership was broken. Michael Clarke, Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith were dismissed in quick succession and Australia never recovered from it despite some resistance from wicket keeper Peter Nevill. For England, it was Ben Stokes, who was the star with the ball in the second innings. Stokes picked up six wickets, his career best figures, and it seemed that he had taken giant strides as a bowler. READ: Ashes 2015: Ben Stokes proves his bowling credentials with top-class five-wicket haul
England can be happy with their performance but they too have some issues that they need to address. They will look to win the final Test at the Oval as well to pile on more misery on Australia. If James Anderson returns to the side for the final Test, it will be interesting to see who among Steven Finn and Mark Wood miss out. Australia on the other hand will have to make a lot of changes if they have to get a consolatory win in the series. They had just one good game at Lord’s, where the entire squad chipped in. The selectors need to make a few changes quickly for the betterment of Australia cricket. READ: Ashes 2015: Starc carrying Australia all by himself; Johnson and Hazlewood nowhere close to their best
England had won the toss on Day One and decided to bowl first. England got in Wood for the injured Anderson and Australia roped in Shaun Marsh in place of Mitchell Marsh.
Brief scores:
Australia 60 (Michael Clarke 10, Mitchell Johnson 13, EXTRAS 14; Stuart Broad 8 for 15, Mark Wood 1 for 13, Steven Finn 1 for 21) & 253 ( Rogers 52, David Warner 64, Adam Voges 51*; Mark Wood 3 for 65, Ben Stokes 6 for 36) lose to England 391 for 9 decl. (Alastair Cook 43, Joe Root 130, Jonny Bairstow 74; Mitchell Starc 6 for 111, Josh Hazlewood 2 for 97) by an innings and 78 runs.
Man of the match: Stuart Broad
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
