The Ashes, Australia vs England, 4th Test, Day 3 Highlights: Batter Jonny Bairstow saved England the blushes with a counter-attacking century at Stumps on the third day of the fourth Test at the SCG. This was Bairstow's seventh ton in 80-Test long career as England finished the day 258/7, still trailing by 158 runs. Bairstow along with Ben Stokes, who played an equally gutsy half-century, rallied their team out of trouble after losing quick wickets. Earlier, wicket-keeper Jos Buttler's poor run of form continued as he was dismissed for a duck. Openers Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley departed early with skipper Joe Root and batter Dawid Malan following soon.
England had resumed batting at 13/0 on the third day. Earlier on Thursday, Usman Khawaja returned to haunt England with a stylish century four years after plundering another big Ashes hundred at the same ground as Australia took a firm grip of the match. Pakistan-born Khawaja, playing his first Test since the 2019 Ashes series in England in place of Covid-isolated Travis Head, was at his unflappable best in compiling 137 off 260 balls to put Australia in charge after a declaration at 416 for eight.
The Ashes 4th Test Day 3, Australia vs England Highlights From The Sydney Cricket Ground
Ashes 4th Test, Day 3 live updates
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We are back. Marcus Harris and David Warner are the openers! Ollie Pope is the keeper for the visitors as both Bairstow and Buttler have hurt their hand. James Anderson has the new ball in hand. Here we go...
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Now Australia will just look to bat normally and post something which will ensure they can't lose the game. England on the other hand, need wickets and quickly. Will the fightback continue from them? We will find out.
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The Australian bowlers could not capitalize when they had England completely on the backfoot! They were brilliant with the new ball but had no answers to the counter-attack from Bairstow and Stokes. However, they were really good this morning and have given their side a very good lead. Boland continues to impress as he finishes with a four-fer. All of them except for Labuschagne got a wicket at least but Boland was the pick.
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Australia have made quick work of the three wickets they had to take this morning but England will be very delighted with their recovery! From 36 for 4, they have finished with a score close to 300 and given Australia a lead of 122. The visitors have just the one man to thank and that is Jonny Bairstow! He played an innings of a lifetime. First it was Stokes who took England to safer shores with a good stand and then Wood hung in there. Bairstow though was the mainstay, he did not add a lot on Day 4 but surely did his job and has kept England in the game.
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79.1WScott Boland to Stuart Broad
OUT! TAKEN! The England innings comes to an end! This is short and on middle, Broad looks to pull, it goes off the top edge towards the leg side. Carey runs to that direction and takes it nicely. ENGLAND HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 294!
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78.60Nathan Lyon to James Anderson
Looks to play the reverse sweep again but this time misses it.
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78.54Nathan Lyon to James Anderson
FOUR! That is beautifully played! Anderson gets the reverse sweep out, gets on top of the bounce and plays it all along the ground to the backward point fence.
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78.40Nathan Lyon to James Anderson
Outside off, easy leave.
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78.31Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
A single as this is eased down to long off for one.
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78.20Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
Shorter and outside off, left alone.
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78.10Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
Shorter and outside off, Broad looks to cut but underedges it on the off side.
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77.60Scott Boland to James Anderson
Back of a length and on middle, defended.
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77.5WScott Boland to Jonny Bairstow
OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Boland gets the wicket of Bairstow and that ends a fine, fine knock from him. He walks off to a standing ovation and well-deserved. Single-handedly has taken England to the position they are in. A good delivery by Boland. On a length and around off, this one lands and holds its line. Bairstow looks to defend but it takes the outside edge and the keeper does the rest. Can Australia keep England under 300 now?
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77.41Scott Boland to Stuart Broad
Short and on the body, this is pulled through square leg for one.
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77.30Scott Boland to Stuart Broad
Hit hard but to mid on! Short again and on the body, it is pulled nicely but to mid on.
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77.20Scott Boland to Stuart Broad
Angled down the leg side, Broad looks to flick but misses.
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77.14Scott Boland to Stuart Broad
FOUR! Powered! Shorter and on middle, Broad stands tall and flat-bats it over the mid off fielder for a boundary. England nearing 300.
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76.61Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
A single to end the over! On middle, Broad sweeps again through square leg for one.
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76.50Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
Outside off, Broad looks to sweep again but does not connect.
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76.40Nathan Lyon to Stuart Broad
On middle, defended.