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.

• Awkward, unfathomable genius of Steve Smith
• Ugly session that stole away England's hopes

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.

Josh Hazlewood ripped out Jason Roy's middle stump to leave the hosts rocking.

“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.

Hazlewood took all four England wickets to fall on day three.

“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.

Pat Cummins put in a brilliant, tireless shift but did not get the wickets he deserved.

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.”

Updates

3:49 am September 7, 2019 Highlight

STUMPS: Bad light ends play

Joe Barton

There's 45 minutes to play, and it looks like the umpires have stepped in to stop Pat Cummins re-joining the attack.

The bad light is taking over and it is genuinely gloomy.

But Australia are going to be forced to throw the ball to Marnus Labuschagne…. actually – they're coming off!

That's the end of the day's play unless they get back on in the next 12 minutes which seems unlikely.

A spicy end of the day with Josh Hazlewood taking a whole lot of the momentum back from England with a ripping spell of bowling – cashing in on the handiwork of Pat Cummins, who cruelly went wicketless.

3:45 am September 7, 2019

Joe Barton

The 200 is up for England, and they need 98 to avoid the follow on.

It's very much in play… with Australia on the prowl and still time to get through tonight.

Whether Tim Paine would want to put his pacemen through that punishment is another matter. But the Ashes could be retained if the bold call is made.

3:40 am September 7, 2019 Highlight

WICKET! Hazlewood on fire as Roy falls

Joe Barton

Josh Hazlewood is motoring, and he's ripped this innings open with three wickets in 40 minutes.

This one is a beauty, as Hazlewood gets it to swing back in to the right-handed Jason Roy soaring through the gate and crashing into the top of middle stump.

That is a super ball and, really, Roy never looked like hitting it.

His move to the middle order isn't exactly a roaring success, and he falls for 22.

England are 5-195 now, still trailing by 301.

3:16 am September 7, 2019 Highlight

WICKET! Hazlewood with the double strike!

Joe Barton

Huge wicket for Josh Hazlewood, and he has two!

Both set batsmen are gone, with Joe Root falling for 71 to a beautiful in-ducker that crashes into Root's pads.

That is as plumb as they come and would've hit two thirds of the way up middle stump.

Beautiful stuff from Hazlewood who has 3-39 now.

It's a tough finish for Root, who has battled bravely and did superbly to escape a brilliant spell from Pat Cummins. But Hazlewood reaps the rewards.

England are 4-175.

Ben Stokes joins Jason Roy in the middle. Stokes, you might remember, is in decent nick with the bat…

3:00 am September 7, 2019 Highlight

WICKET! Hazlewood breaks partnership

Joe Barton

There's the breakthrough Australia has been craving.

Josh Hazlewood gets the wicket, though Pat Cummins deserves a bunch of the credit for his superb spell.

Angling across the batsman, Hazlewood puts it on a good length and Burns gets a thick edge to Steve Smith at second slip.

Good ball, good catch and the end of a very good innings from Rory Burns.

He goes for 81.

England are 3-166 and it brings Jason Roy to the crease. Can he capitalise coming in lower down the order, as England hope?

2:52 am September 7, 2019

Joe Barton

New ground for Cummins.

Pat Cummins has never bowled a longer spell in Test cricket than the one he's just finished. #Ashes

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 6, 2019

2:45 am September 7, 2019

Cummins goes wicketless in super spell

Joe Barton

Seven overs there from Cummins after tea, and that is likely the end of him for a while… gutsy batting by Root and Burns.

But what a spell by Cummins, who had everything except a wicket. And he should've had that too, having had Root edging between the keeper and first slip – though neither moved.

England are 2-162, Burns on 79 and Root 67.

2:31 am September 7, 2019

Burns rides his luck

Joe Barton

Rory Burns nearly run out!

He prodded one to extra cover and takes on the arm of Travis Head – and dawdles a touch.

Head pings one at the stumps and it just misses the timber. Burns would've been well short of his ground.

Cummins finishes his over with a searing bouncer that bounces high up off the shoulder of Burns' bat – but falls safely short of Lyon at point.

Cummins is on fire… but he can't bowl forever.

12:28 am October 14, 2024

Decent shout for LBW from Pat Cummins thudding into Joe Root's pad – but it looks outside the line.

Australia are desperate, though, and they opt for a review. It seems optimistic and the replays confirm it.

That's hitting outside the line and wouldn't have come back enough to hit off stump either.

It's a bad review, really. And it's Australia's 25th of the series… of which only six have been overturned. England have a better strike rate of 13 correct from 30 reviews.

Root rubs salt into the wound with an edge which goes wide of second slip – and short.

England pass 150, and they're piling on the pain for Australia.

12:28 am October 14, 2024

Joe Root is in considerable pain here – it's from the blow he copped from the Cummins LBW shout this over.

He was hit on the flap of the pad, and has cannoned into his right thigh. Could be a nasty cork?

He's getting some treatment now. Obviously there's no runners allowed in international cricket now, so Root will need to recover here if he's to continue.

But he is in quite a lot of pain it must be said. He's grimacing as he gets some treatment from the physio during this injury break.

Incredibly, he seems to be in more pain now than he was when hit in the box – which was absolutely shattered!

Cummins is truly working Root over here. He's bowled a delightful bouncer which Root misjudges and and has to fend away with his glove.

He's in the wars.