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Ashes 2019: 4th Test swings to Australia as Steve Smith, Pat Cummins dominate

Steve Smith rescued Australia before Pat Cummins tore through England on dramatic day | WATCH

Peter Lalor and Tom Crystal
12 min read
4:25AMSeptember 08, 2019.
Updated 10:46AMSeptember 08, 2019
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Cummins devastates England late on day 4

Australia vs England, day four of the 4th Ashes Test at Old Trafford. England are 2-18 at stumps, needing another 365 runs to win.

Peter Lalor 4.20am: Ashes win within Australia’s reach

Australia need eight wickets on the last day to secure the Ashes and take a 2-1 lead in the series going into the final Test.

Pat Cummins decapitated England’s top order with his first over as the home side set about chasing 383 runs to win on day four at Old Trafford.

The quick had Rory Burns caught in front of the wicket from a leading edge with his third delivery and captain Joe Root out the following ball for a golden duck.

Root is now the first England captain to make three ducks in a series.

Earlier in the day David Warner scored his third consecutive duck to continue a horror run against Stuart Broad.

Stuart Broad jumps for joy after removing David Warner. Picture: Getty Images
Stuart Broad jumps for joy after removing David Warner. Picture: Getty Images

The England bowler has figures of 6-32 against the Australian opener this English summer. Warner’s scores of 2, 5, 3, 5, 61, 0, 0, 0 would usually have a batsman under pressure, but it is highly unlikely he will miss the next Test.

Marcus Harris has failed in the four innings since he replaced Cameron Bancroft as Warner’s opening partner.

Selectors won’t recall Bancroft, but could recall Usman Khawaja to open. Even if they did he would be more likely to replace Harris than Warner. Marnus Labuschagne shows potential to open but will not be shifted in the order again.

Steve Smith was out for 82 in this innings — his lowest score of the series — sacrificing the chance to sore a fourth hundred as the side chased late runs.

He now has an incredible 671 runs from five innings at an average of 134.2.

Don Bradman scored 974 in seven innings in the 1930 Ashes.

Steve Smith raises his bat after being dismissed for 82. Picture: Getty Images
Steve Smith raises his bat after being dismissed for 82. Picture: Getty Images

Match blog below — how day four unfolded:

4.04am: Stumps

Jason Roy and Joe Denly survive further damage, leaving England on 2-18. Pat Cummins has 2-8. A dramatic day, on which 17 wickets fell and momentum, for a while, swung England’s way before Steve Smith and Pat Cummins intervened.

Team-mates mob Pat Cummins. Picture: Getty Images
Team-mates mob Pat Cummins. Picture: Getty Images

3.55am: Lyon gets a turn

Nathan Lyon gets a chance at Joe Denly with fielders crowded around the bat. A sharp turner nearly knocks over the right-hander’s off stump. Mitchell Starc will bowl the final over of the day.

Rory Burns is dismissed in the first over. Picture: Getty Images
Rory Burns is dismissed in the first over. Picture: Getty Images

3.35am: CUMMINS ON A HAT-TRICK!

An unplayable ball first-up to skipper Joe Root. It’s angled in and straightens, clipping the top of off stump. England are 2-0 and Pat Cummins has the chance to take a hat-trick.

3.32am: WICKET!

The worst possible start for England as their dependable opener Rory Burns falls third ball, courtesy of a leading edge straight to Travis Head off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

Peter Lalor 3.27am: Tricky run chase set

England need 383 to win with a day and a difficult half-hour before stumps to do so.

Ben Stokes, it’s over to you. The hero of Headingley and the World Cup final will have to do something extraordinary but the pitch is playing well.

Australia declared on 6-186 with Tim Paine (23no) and Mitchell Starc (3no) at the wicket.

The visitors threw their bat for the last hour, Steve Smith eventually dismissed for 82 off 92 balls but not before he had played and attempted some outrageous strokes.

A late cut from leg stump off the bowling of Jofra Archer was the most audacious.

Nathan Lyon has not taken a wicket in the match and will be looking to step up in the last innings. The crowd have been merciless on the spinner since his fielding error cost Australia a chance of winning that match.

Archer finally showed some spirit on the fourth day, bowling with a bit of heat and taking 3-45 after a lacklustre show in the early stages of the match.

The match is set up for the Australians to attack, and with Mitchell Starc in the line up there will be no excuses should they get through the top order.

Steve Smith, unorthodox as ever, doing Steve Smith things. Picture: AFP
Steve Smith, unorthodox as ever, doing Steve Smith things. Picture: AFP

3.20am: Australia declare!

Tim Paine calls an end to his team's innings on 6-186 after 42.5 overs. England need 382 runs to win. There are about 30 minutes of play scheduled for today and a full day tomorrow.

3.10am: Paine remedy

Australia’s skipper belts three boundaries of a Jack Leach over to push the lead up to 368. He finds the fence at long-on, extra cover and then third man with a reverse-sweep.

Former Socceroos star Tim Cahill looks on from the crowd. Picture: Getty Images
Former Socceroos star Tim Cahill looks on from the crowd. Picture: Getty Images

3am: WICKET!

Great catch from Jonny Bairstow to remove Matthew Wade, who slashes at a wide Jofra Archer delivery and gets a big edge to the keeper. There’s about an hour of play left and Australia are pushing for runs to enable a declaration.

2.55am: WICKET!

Steve Smith is out as he chases a lift in the run rate. He skies a slog off the bowling of Jack Leach and is caught by Ben Stokes in the deep. Team-first approach from Smith with a ton in the offing.

2.50pm: Search for quick runs

The lead is building nicely now, so we may be looking at a declaration tonight.

2.30am: All in good fun

If we didn’t already know it, Steve Smith’s playing a different game. He effortlessly smacks Jofra Archer over the top and out to the mid-wicket boundary, then dabs a 141km/h cheekily past slips to the third man boundary for four. After that it’s a tennis-style overhead back down the wicket. Smith is looking very relaxed out there. Too relaxed?

A view of play during day four. Picture: Getty Images
A view of play during day four. Picture: Getty Images

2.10am: Another 50 to Smith

Ben Stokes nearly takes a screamer with Smith reverse-sweeping on 48 but he’s unable to hold onto a difficult chance. The batsman notches another half-century on the next delivery. The lead is over 300.

2am: Last throw?

Joe Root has seen enough — he recalls Stuart Broad to the attack. England made a brilliant start to the innings but with such a big deficit, need another wicket or two now.

1.55am: Rescue mission takes shape

Marnus Labuschagne exchanges words with the England team after his dismissal. Picture: Getty Images
Marnus Labuschagne exchanges words with the England team after his dismissal. Picture: Getty Images

The pressure valve has eased slightly now that Jack Leach and Craig Overton are operating. Wade cuts the seamer for four to take the lead up to 287.

It’s a far cry from the tension and drama that engulfed the Australian batsmen early in this innings, enlivening the crowd.

Runs are starting to flow and anything over 350 will be very tough to chase on a pitch with some variable bounce and turn.

1.34am: Final session underway

Jack Leach starts after tea and nearly has Steve Smith caught in the deep. Smith advances down the pitch looking to hit over the top but a miscue barely evades Joe Root running back from mid-off.

Steve Smith looks for runs in Australia’s second innings. Picture: Getty Images
Steve Smith looks for runs in Australia’s second innings. Picture: Getty Images

1.10am: Tea

Matthew Wade and Steve Smith stem the bleeding— taking the score to 4-63 at the end of the second session with a partnership of 19 runs. Destroyers Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer are out of the attack, replaced by Craig Overton and spinner Jack Leach.

12.55am: Tempers on edge

Matthew Wade and Jofra Archer are at each other. The bowler is launching short balls and verbal follow-ups to his former Hobart Hurricanes team-mate. Wade nearly collides with Archer as he works him to fine leg — a mid-pitch clash is narrowly avoided.

12.36am: WICKET!

Archer’s on target — at pace — and the latest batsmen to exit is Travis Head, clean bowled through the gate. At least one of the Australians gave Archer some lip a little while ago when he was batting and it seems to have fired the big man up. The right-armer is back up around 150km/h and proving a handful.

Travis Head loses his furniture. Picture: Getty Images
Travis Head loses his furniture. Picture: Getty Images

12.16am: WICKET!

Trouble for Australia as Jofra Archer traps Marnus Labuschagne in front lbw. Another wasted review as DRS shows the delivery clipping the top of middle and leg. So once again, Australia fritter away their reviews in double quick time. It looked out from the naked eye but Steve Smith was unwilling to impart that on Labuschagne.

11.59pm: WICKET!

We’re officially trapped in a time warp. Stuart Broad hits Marcus Harris in front from around the wicket and is rightfully given out lbw. Just like the first innings. And just like the first innings, Harris burns a review on the way off. What’s going on out there? Marnus Labuschagne needed to be a bit more honest with his batting partner there: “Plumb mate, just keep walking.”

11.35pm: Disastrous start for Australia

David Warner fails again, trapped plumb in front for his third duck in a row. The bowler, of course, is Stuart Broad. The opener smiles ruefully as he trudges back to the pavilion.

11.20pm: WICKET!

Thankfully, Tim Paine’s horrendous use (misuse) of DRS costs only a few runs. Jos Buttler tries to heave Pat Cummins down the ground but is bowled for 41. A check of the front foot shows Cummins barely behind the crease. England are left with a deficit of 196.

11.15pm: Follow-on avoided

It may be academic but England have ensured Australia will bat next as Jos Buttler punches Mitchell Starc through cover for four. The crowd roars.

11.10pm: Here we go again

Big appeal for lbw from Mitchell Starc against No.11 Jack Leach. Looks out but umpire Marais Erasmus knocks it back, and because Tim Paine has wasted both reviews Australia can’t do anything about it. Ball tracker shows it hitting. Coach Justin Langer looks unimpressed as he watches from the players’ area.

10.56pm: WICKET!

Mitchell Starc again, cleaning up Stuart Broad’s stumps with a full delivery that nips back and through his defences. That’s one of the reasons why Starc got picked for this Test — his ability to work over the tail. As Nasser Hussain in commentary says: “Starc against tailenders is simply brilliant.”

10.40pm: Second session begins

Nathan Lyon, wicketless in this innings, starts after lunch. Mitchell Starc is looking to rip through the tail from the other end.

The lights are already on at Old Trafford. Picture: AFP
The lights are already on at Old Trafford. Picture: AFP

Peter Lalor 10.20pm: Starc shows his class

Mitchell Starc has arrived. Berated by Shane Warne for his bowling early in the innings, the quick took the second new ball this morning and did just what he is here for.

The big left-armer removed England’s last chance of holding out after resuming at 5-200, bowling Jonny Bairstow with a trademark inswinger and then having Ben Stokes caught at second slip.

They call him “the mop” in the dressing rooms because he cleans up tails, and that is all that is left with Jos Buttler (26no) and Stuart Broad (2no) at the wicket.

It is Starc’s first Test of the series and he needs stake a solid claim to keep out bids from James Pattinson and Peter Siddle for the last Test.

Jofra Archer’s indifferent Test continues, the bowler scoring one run — one more than the total in his wicket column in the first innings.

Archer wafted lazily at a ball from Pat Cummins and was caught behind.

England lost 3-78 in that session and trail by 219 runs.

10pm: Lunch

Jos Buttler (26) and Stuart Broad (2) survive. England lost 3-78 off 24 overs in the first session to dig themselves a big hole. They need 20 to avoid the follow-on.

9.50pm: Burn baby burn, DRS inferno

Before this Test Tim Paine promised he’d be better with his use of TV reviews on close lbw decisions. He did say that didn’t he? Because he’s wasted another one and Australia have none left. And neither was remotely close. It probably won’t cost the visiting side but it’s impetuous from the skipper. What’s he thinking?

9.35pm: WICKET!

Archer wafts at a wide ball from Pat Cummins and edges a simple catch to Tim Paine. From ball one, when he was nearly run out jogging for a single when a direct hit would have had him run out, Archer hasn’t looked too interested in hanging around.

9.30pm: Pitch battle

Jofra Archer is battling the new ball and some chirping from Matthew Wade at short leg. The Australian fielder doesn’t appear to be happy with some of Archer’s pre-Test comments, when he suggested England had planted seeds of doubt in the heads of the Australians

A disappointed Ben Stokes trudges off. Picture: Getty Images
A disappointed Ben Stokes trudges off. Picture: Getty Images

9.10pm: WICKET!

Starc is on a roll now, inducing an edge from danger man Ben Stokes to Steve Smith at second slip. The danger man is gone for 26 — this is more like it from Starc. Australia are into the tail and will fancy their chances of finishing England off quickly.

Mitchell Starc removes Jonny Bairstow. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc removes Jonny Bairstow. Picture: Getty Images

8.47pm: WICKET!

Mitchell Starc, take a bow. He’s produced a peach to remove Jonny Bairstow, nipping a full-length ball back into the right-hander's off stump. The first four balls of the over were leaving Bairstow, setting up the inswinger. Starc battled yesterday but has been much improved on day four, bowling a beautiful line and swinging the ball about.

8.40pm: Close calls!

Ben Stokes (20) barely survives, getting an inside edge off Mitchell Starc for four and then driving a low caught and bowled chance back to the same bowler. Starc gets a hand to the ball but can’t hold on to a tough chance.

8.26pm: Promising from Starc

A good first over with the new ball, with a hint of swing and movement back into right-hander Jonny Bairstow. Australia will need to make the most of the new cherry if they hope to press for victory. Josh Hazlewood will bowl from the other end.

Mitchell Starc presses for a breakthrough. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc presses for a breakthrough. Picture: Getty Images

8.23pm: New ball is taken

Somewhat surprisingly, Mitchell Starc gets the honours with the new rock. The tall left-armer struggled yesterday, returning figures of 0-41 from 11 overs. Let’s see what he can produce today.

8.15pm: Spin and pace

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is operating in tandem with Cummins. He doesn’t look threatening enough to prevent Tim Paine from delaying taking the new ball.

8pm: First session begins

Pat Cummins starts off against Jonny Bairstow with the second new ball just six overs away. There’s a little bit of cloud about but no rain forecast. It’s sitting on 16C headed for a top of 17C.

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow walk out to bat. Picture: Getty Images
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow walk out to bat. Picture: Getty Images

• Late drama: how day three unfolded

7.30pm: Cummins sets the tone

Pat Cummins has proven himself to be Australia’s ironman following a herculean effort with the ball on day three, AAP reports. The one-time injury-plagued quick, who is the only fast bowler in the Australian squad to play in all four Tests despite his involvement in the Cricket World Cup, reeled off a high quality 10-over spell for no reward on flat track either side of tea.

Although it was Hazlewood (4-48) who broke the 141-run partnership between Rory Burns (81) and Joe Root (71), Cummins set the tone after England had dominated following lunch, hitting Mitchell Starc, who went for nearly four an over, out of the attack.

The 26-year-old deserved better figures than 0-22 from 10 overs and should have claimed the wicket of Root for 58 when he edged him through Tim Paine and David Warner at first slip.

“Patty rarely bowls a bad spell to be honest he was fantastic there in the evening session,” Hazlewood said of Cummins.

“He could have had a catch that went between the keeper and first slip and is always at the batsmen.

“Front foot, back foot, he just gets better every time he bowls. It’s good to have him in your team.”

After making a stunning debut as a 19-year-old against South Africa in 2011, Cummins endured a series of injury setbacks that threatened to derail his career, something Hazlewood believes is very much a thing of the past. “He had all that bad luck with injury through his teens, early 20s, and then he’s come out the other side,” he said.

“He’s always been a great athlete, I guess it was just a matter of time before that body hardened up and his bones hardened up.

“As a power and strength athlete, he’s fantastic and he’s got great endurance as well. He’s pretty much the all-round package.”

— AAP

Mitchell Starc wears his GWS Giants cap before play on day four. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc wears his GWS Giants cap before play on day four. Picture: Getty Images

Gideon Haigh 7pm: Crucial first session ahead

Another XL day of Test cricket awaits at Old Trafford today, with rain having abated after three days of glowering skies and regular interruptions. And so far these elements have been Australia’s greatest obstacles.

Australia sit on a first-innings lead of nearly 300 runs. They have bowled tautly and tightly. To go with his double hundred, Steve Smith has also taken two sharp slip catches.

Having lost three wickets in the last three quarters of an hour, England have only five remaining wickets. One of these, granted, is Ben Stokes, on whom all local hopes hinge. But England still need 97 to avoid the follow on, in a game they must win or draw to stay within sniffing distance of the Ashes. The next two days teem with possibilities.

The strongest English phase of the game ran yesterday from lunch to tea, as Joe Root and Rory Burns staved off the Australian attack in a 141-run partnership. But consecutive spells from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood acted like demolition charges beneath a condemned building.

Cummins unsettled the foundations with unflagging pace and relentless lengths; Hazlewood rushed in to push over the toppling structure, dismissing Burns, Root and Jason Roy in six overs for 17. Middle stump flattened, Roy trailed away with a shake of the head. England’s galvanic opener during the World Cup has 79 runs to show for seven innings in the series.

Gideon Haigh 7pm: Star trio finally reunited

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were back together — that’s 500 Test wickets right there. They’d have quelled that riot at Headingley, yes? Maybe; maybe not. Read more here

Additional reporting: Gideon Haigh and Agencies

Read related topics:Ashes

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2019-live-australia-vs-england-day-4-from-old-trafford/news-story/6bf5590fde7b96a62748fc225fffc669