Twitter Reactions: Mitchell Starc swings England into trouble late on Day 4 to put Australia in ascendancy at Lord's

England need 257 runs on Day 5 with six wickets in hand.

By Adreej Kumar Mitra

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4 Min Read

England vs Australia
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England vs Australia. (Photo Source: IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia started Day 4 in a commanding position as they had a lead of 221 runs with eight wickets in hand in their second innings. Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja began proceedings for Australia. The former Australian captain was quite positive in his approach, as he hit the first ball of the day for a boundary. A few overs later, Smith hit three boundaries in one over off James Anderson.

The in-form Khawaja frustrated the home side by batting patiently. Smith and Khawaja complimented each other well and registered a 64-run partnership before the left-hander was dismissed by Stuart Broad with a short ball. England had the chance to exert more pressure straightaway, but Anderson dropped Travis Head off his very first ball. Josh Tongue, the unfortunate bowler on that occasion, lifted the English spirits by bagging the prized wicket of Smith in the very next delivery. The star Aussie batter pulled a short delivery nonchalantly to square leg.

Meanwhile, Head’s drop didn’t cost England too much as Broad got the better of him with a short ball at the body. The southpaw could only lob it to Joe Root at short leg, who took a spectacular one-handed catch.

After Lunch, Alex Carey and Cameron Green stretched Australia’s lead beyond 300 with a 42-run partnership. England went on with their short-pitch bowling, and it paid dividends. The two batters got out to short deliveries. Pat Cummins, who dished out a few short balls himself on Day 3, got out to one from Broad.

After Josh Hazlewood was dismissed by Stokes for one, the injured Nathan Lyon hobbled out to the crease in what was a commendable show of courage. He added 15 runs in partnership with Mitchell Starc and took Australia’s lead to 370 before being dismissed.

Mitchell Starc gets Australia off to great start

England, chasing a target of 371, lost Zak Crawley in the third over as he was strangled down leg off the bowling of Starc. The left-arm pacer was breathing fire as he castled Ollie Pope with an unplayable inswinger.

Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes joined forces and took England to Stumps without further damage. The former also scored a fine fifty in the process. England need 257 runs on Day 5 with six wickets in hand.

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The Ashes 2023AustraliaEnglandMitchell StarcStuart Broad