Aussies in charge as England have a mountain to climb
The Aussies were left fuming over a dramatic late reprieve for Ben Duckett as England battled desperately to save themselves from another damaging Ashes defeat.
England will this morning be hoping the two Bens, Duckett and Stokes, can chime out loud with the bat with big scores if they are to have any chance of pulling off what would be a sensational Second Test victory. But they will face an Aussie bowling unit incensed that Duckett is at the crease.
For a gripping fourth day ended in real drama with South African third umpire Marais Erasmus ruling that Mitchell Starc had allowed the ball to hit the ground after producing a fine diving catch off the bowling of Pat Cummings.
England ended on 114-4 with Duckett on 50 and Stokes 29. But Duckett’s wicket then, with 257 runs still needed to pull off what would be a record Lord’s fourth innings run chase of 371, would have been another major blow.
As it was, he was given a life, and that infuriated the Aussies with several of them having strong words with Duckett before turning their attentions to the umpires.
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick claims England can still pull off an unlikely victory despite the odds stacked against them.
The former Test opener enthused: “We have to be brave enough at different times and do the right things. There is belief in that dressing room that we are still in the game.
“We have a job to do tomorrow and it’s not out of the question yet. There is always hope with Ben there…the two Bens there. If we can get a good start in the morning with someone getting a big score we will have a good go at knocking these runs off. It is a challenge we can overcome.”
However, the Aussies walked off unhappy players after the Duckett incident and will be determined to finish the job and take a 2-0 lead in the series into the third clash at Headingley starting on Thursday.
On Duckett’s fortune, Trescothick insisted: “I’ve no idea on the rules. The initial reaction is it was a clean catch but the third umpire clearly saw it in a different way.”
Former England Test skipper Andrew Strauss admitted: “For me it was out but it was sloppy by Starc to slide the ball along like that.” But ex-Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting claimed: “At some stage Mitchell’s fingers were under the ball. That catch was controlled longer than most catches you see.”
If England do manage to somehow win this contest it will prove to have been the turning point of an absorbing contest.
Not that the draw is likely with England still hell bent on going full out for the win as they showed when they crumbled to 49-4 at one stage chasing what would be a record fourth innings victory total at Lord’s.
England had fought back to dismiss Australia for 279 with an ultra bodyline bowling approach where Stuart Broad (4-65), Josh Tongue (2-53) and Ollie Robinson (2- 48) led the way. Along with Jimmy Anderson and Stokes they sent down no fewer than 98 per cent of their deliveries half way up the pitch!
It was an extraordinary attempt and plan by Stokes and co to battle back into a match which also saw Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon come out to bat with a badly damaged calf, hobbling down the wicket in pain in a bid to help his side pile up more runs.
But when England went into bat they slumped to 45-4 with Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope going cheaply to Starc. Cummings removed Joe Root and Harry Brook before Duckett and Stokes steadied the ship.
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