That’s all from me. Thanks for joining me on another difficult day for Australia.
It’s hard to believe Australia are still up 2-1 in this series and are still a real chance of winning their first Ashes series in England since 2001. It feels like England are the in-form team charging towards the line, whereas the visitors are running out of gas.
We’ll be back Saturday night at 7.30 for day four. Have a great Saturday.
Travis Head became Mark Wood’s second wicket in an inspired spell, and third in this innings.
Australia are in a deep hole after three days at Old Trafford.
They were comprehensively outplayed again on the third day. Their bowlers were smashed, and their batters have failed to get going again.
Only rain will save Australia, who are 4/113 at stumps. Even if a day is lost, England will still fancy themselves to win this game with one day of play. I suspect two sessions will be enough for them to claim the last six wickets.
It’s hard seeing Australia getting to 276 to make England bat again. The 66 runs Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson added for the final wicket could well come back to haunt Australia.
The late wickets of Steve Smith (17) and Travis Head (one) to an inspired burst from Mark Wood late in the day were dagger blows for Australia.
The in-form all-rounder likes to score, but he’ll also be conscious of how important it is to get through to stumps.
These were the type of scenarios that brought Mitch Marsh undone in his previous goes at Test cricket.
Will he have the nerve to attack Mark Wood this late in the day? Is attack his best chance of making through the day? Let’s find out.
This is an inspired burst by Mark Wood. Travis Head is gone. This is an ugly dismissal.
Caught in two minds, he’s half-played at a short ball and it’s ballooned to Ben Duckett at gully. Head’s out for one. Perhaps it was the lack of pace from the bouncer which left him hesitant.
It’s another body blow to Australia, as Head can score quickly. Runs are still vital for Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne is having a concussion test. He’s hit one on to his helmet, the ball deflecting safely over Jonny Bairstow.
Labuschagne’s not happy he hasn’t been given runs. He’s vindicated. The ball hit his bat first.
But the good news for him is he’s been given the all clear to bat on.
This is a massive moment in the game. Steve Smith is out. He’s fallen to the short ball from Mark Wood, who has had a change of ends.
Smith has tried to get out of the way to help the ball fine but it hasn’t come on as quickly and there’s a faint edge. Smith walks. Ben Stokes is jubilant. The Old Trafford crowd is on its feet. Australia are in deep trouble, 3/97, trailing by 178.
This short clip of Jonny Bairstow’s highlights is worth a watch just for the strokeplay. What stands out to me is how short Australia bowled to him.
I never like it when teams spread the field for the frontline batter as if they have conceded defeat, and focus their energy on the tailender.
Just the two-over spell for Mark Wood, who has been replaced by Moeen Ali.
Ben Stokes is keeping his weapon to very short spells. It’s worth a punt with this change of pace to spin.
Australia will play their shots trying to hit the spinner out of the attack.