Australia enter final day with eyes on 2-0 series lead

The Australians will enter the fifth day of play this afternoon in Adelaide requiring just six wickets to win and take a commanding 2-0 series lead heading into Boxing Day.

Australia entered yesterday with opener Marcus Harris and night watchman Michael Neser at the crease and experienced a turbulent start to proceedings, with both men losing their wickets cheaply before skipper Steve Smith was dismissed for just six. Australia lost three wickets for just seven runs before Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head steadied the ship with an 89-run partnership. Both men reached a confident fifty before losing their wickets on 51. A couple of handy cameos from Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc helped the hosts pile on some last-ditch runs before Smith made the call to declare with a 467-run advantage.

English opener Haseeb Hameed lasted just six balls before a Jhye Richardson nut caught his glove and flew into the mitts of Alex Carey. Debutant Neser managed the catch the dangerous Dawid Malan in front, who unsuccessfully reviewed the leg-before shout, before Richardson claimed the wicket of Rory Burns for 30. Burns managed his highest score of the series but will still contend with calls for his exclusion in the Boxing Day Test.

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England’s final shot at any success fell on the shoulders of captain Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes. Root was brave for his side, having suffered a blow to his abdomen in warm-ups and spent the first session receiving scans. Not long before stumps, his inner-groin was on the receiving-end of a Starc missile, resulting in an apparent level of discomfort. He was, however, unable to see out the day’s play with Starc dismissing him on what would be the final ball of the day for 24.

England enter this afternoon with Stokes and Ollie Pope at the crease. Stokes appeared stout in defence at the end of last night and is no stranger to helping England snatch victory from the jaws of Ashes defeat. This afternoon’s job, however, looks exceedingly difficult as the Australians set their sights on a dominant 2-0 series lead.

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