Late wickets from Josh Hazlewood break England resistance to Ashes in reach for Australia
On another rain affected day at Old Trafford Josh Hazlewood ran through an unusually obdurate English top order in the final session to move the tourists closer to a victory in the fourth Test that would see Australia retain the Ashes.
Josh Hazlewood bowled Australia back to within reach of a fourth Test win that would retain the Ashes after a six-over spell that rattled England’s Old Trafford resistance before bad light saved the home team from further trouble.
The star Australian quick took 3-17, including the wicket of Joe Root for the third time in five innings after the England skipper and Rory Burns threatened to send the match towards a draw.
But after Pat Cummins softened the pair up with an unbelievable seven over-spell after tea, Hazlewood removed both Burns, to end a 145-run partnership, then Root within three overs.
When Hazlewood up-ended Jason Roy’s middle stump two overs later England had lost 3-30 and were teetering badly when bad light stopped play nearly just before 7pm local time.
Hazlewood took all four England wickets to fall, including night watchman Craig Overton with just his third ball of the day, and had figures of 4-48 which reduced the home team 5-200 at stumps after a batting go-slow, still 297 runs behind Australia.
Headingley hero Ben Stokes was not out on seven and Jonny Bairstow two when Australian captain Tim Paine couldn’t convince the umpires to let him bowl spin at both ends in the Manchester gloom.
Australia finished the day in a position of power despite losing the entire first session to rain and still has up to 196 overs over two days to get a result which could see them retain the Ashes and avoid a fifth-Test showdown for the series at The Oval next week.
“Once you can get one (wicket) and break a partnership, you can get two and three pretty quickly,” Hazlewood said.
“We probably bowled better in the last session … you felt like something was going to come. I was lucky enough to be the one bowling when it happened.
“We’re pretty happy with where we are at. The weather is pretty good for the next two days, two long days of cricket.
“There’s plenty of cricket left.”
The final session surge came after Root and Burns worked their way through the second session without trouble, managing to see of a loose effort from Mitchell Starc and some tireless work from Nathan Lyon.
Root also survived a broken box, after being hit in the groin by Starc, and being rapped on the knee by Cummins before posting his 44th Test half-century.
But he was worked over by Cummins in a superb seven-over spell after tea, the longest of the Australian’s career, which also included three before the break.
Cummins should have had Root out on 54 when an outside edge went between Paine and David Warner at first slip, with neither going for it.
Most experts concluded it was Paine’s to catch, and came after the Australian captain blew another DRS review when an LBW decision not only hit Root outside off stump, but was missing them too.
But Hazlewood, who felt he’s bowling as good as he ever has, seized on the good work of Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who bowled unchanged after tea, snaring Root for the seventh time in Test cricket.
It was the 10th time in Test cricket Hazlewood has dismissed the England captain, more than any other bowler.
“I've been consistent in the last two and a half Tests, the body feels really good, nice and fresh, conditions have suited seam bowling a little bit, maybe not this wicket as much,” Hazlewood said.
“I made a few little changes after my last injury, and I think everything is in a good line. I worked really hard at it, did some good work at home, and am reaping the benefits now.”
Originally published as Late wickets from Josh Hazlewood break England resistance to Ashes in reach for Australia