The Ashes 2021-22 second Test, day four as it happened: Root suffers painful blow before falling in final over of the day

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Australia began the day in a dominant position and ensured England did not get back into the match.

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head both made 51 in the second innings, while Cameron Green got some beneficial time in the middle, making 33 not out.

Australia’s bowlers did their job once again and will be chuffed by their 43.2 overs in the field tonight.

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See you again tomorrow, as Australia surge towards a 2-0 series lead. Cheers.

Joe Root seeks medical attention after being hit by a delivery by Mitchell Starc.Credit: Getty Images

BANG! After a long delay, the England captain nicks off to Starc, clearly a little concerned about being hit again in the groin. Carey pouches a straightforward catch after Root was caught on the crease and not really getting his front foot to the pitch of the ball.

What a huge breakthrough on the stroke of stumps, with Root gone for 24. Stokes is not out on three.

Victory is in sight for Australia, who need six wickets on day five to make it a 2-0 series lead.

England 4-82, still need 386 runs to win

You hate to see it.

Root, who was hit in the groin this morning without a box on in the nets, has just been hit in the same spot by Mitchell Starc. Right where it hurts.

He looks in serious discomfort on the ground. He’s having a drink of water and can barely get off his knees.

Joe Root seeks medical attention after being hit by a delivery by Mitchell Starc.Credit: Getty Images

England 3-78 from 41.1 overs

We’ve got another six overs left tonight and England have been very happy to shut up shop.

Joe Root is proving hard to dislodge. It’s been the case all year.

Ben Stokes continues to block and block and block. He has the lowest batting strike rate of any player (29.25) in this series, aside from Jack Leach.

England 3-75 from 37 overs

Usman Khawaja is on as a sub-fielder and keeping the Adelaide crowd entertained with a cheeky ‘running man’ move.

Maybe he’s heard that his Sydney Thunder side have the Brisbane Heat 5-18 in the BBL (no joke).

Root is respecting Green, who has gone for eight runs off five overs. Australia would love another one or two wickets before the end of play.

England 3-73, still require 395 runs

Rory Burns is making his way back to the pavilion for 34 from 95 balls after edging a ball to Steve Smith at second slip. That’s a massive breakthrough for Australia.

He might have dropped Malan earlier today, but the Australian captain takes a fantastic catch, low and to his right.

Richardson angles one into Burns and gets a hint of away movement off the seam. There’s a healthy edge and Smith does the rest.

Ben Stokes comes out to bat with about 50 minutes of play remaining.

England 3-70

Green, into his third over, is bowling beautifully and generating some good pace.

His fastest ball has been 142km/h and his average is 137km/h. England still need more than 400 runs to pull off a miracle victory. They’re $101 with the bookies at present.

Meanwhile, Jhye Richardson is charging in at the other end, desperately trying to induce a false stroke from Root.

England 2-63

Burns has moved to 30 off 85 balls. His runs have been relatively evenly spread around the field, as the below graph shows.

England 2-63 from 28 overs

Warne gets his wish. “I think this is an excellent move by Steve Smith,” he says.

Ball one: straight at the stumps and Root pats it back to Green.

Ball two: an “annoying” single, in the words of Warne, into the off side. Root gets off strike.

Ball three: short of a length and defended by Burns.

Ball four: similar to ball three.

Ball five: defended around off stump.

Ball six: GONE!? Burns is given out caught behind, England review it ... and the ball has clipped the back leg, not the inside edge.

A great start from Green. Time for a drink.

England 2-57

Shane Warne reckons Steve Smith should be bringing on Cameron Green to bowl at Joe Root.

The young quick has removed England’s skipper twice in two innings. It’s probably a stretch to label Root Green’s bunny, but if he can pull off the trifecta, he’d have a fair case.

Australia will be desperate to not let Root settle. The home side still have at least 19 overs to bowl today. The latest we can go is 10pm local time (10:30pm AEDT).

As I type that, Neser has just bowled a sensational delivery that misses Root’s off stump by the smallest of margins.

England 2-54, require another 414 runs

Jhye Richardson signs a few autographs at the fence. Credit: Getty