Ashes 2019 1st Test, Day 3, England v Australia: Preview, predictions

England still trail by 17 runs at the end of Day Two, but they have 6 wickets in hand. And with Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, and even Stuart Broad yet to bat, Australia may be in for some leather hunting unless they break through early in the day. The ball is still new, and the first hour will be crucial.

Australia struck in the sixth over of the morning, as James Pattinson moved one away to have Jason Roy caught at slip. Joe Root was more fortunate than fluent. DRS saved him twice; on one of these instances the ball hit off-stump without dislodging a bail.

Nathan Lyon, who found considerable turn as the ball got old, should have had Rory Burns leg-before, but Tim Paine did not opt for the DRS. Thus reprieved, Burns marched on, eventually reaching his maiden Test hundred after facing 9 agonising balls on 99. Burns remained unbeaten on 125 at stumps.

Meanwhile, Peter Siddle took an incredible reflex catch off his own bowling to send Root (57) back to end a 132-run stand. Pattinson trapped Joe Denly in front, while Cameron Bancroft caught Jos Buttler spectacularly at third slip off Pat Cummins. Burns and Ben Stokes (38*) have added 73 before stumps.

Key players

Ben Stokes (England): More than Burns, Australia will be desperate to see the back of Stokes, for he may decide the course of the Test if he is still there at lunch. And even if he fails, trust him to provide crucial breakthroughs when Australia bat.

Pat Cummins (Australia): Despite the conditions not being conducive, Cummins bent his back, generating extra pace, sending down 20 overs in the day, removing Jos Buttler cheaply. He bowled a lot better than his figures of 1/65 suggest.

Brief scores

Australia 284 (Steven Smith 144, Peter Siddle 44; Stuart Broad 5/86, Chris Woakes 3/58) lead England 267/4 (Rory Burns 125*, Joe Root 57; James Pattinson 2/54) by 17 runs.

Prediction

England to take a 100-150 run lead and take a couple of wickets before stumps.