Ashes 2019 4th Test, England vs Australia Day 4 preview: Late collapse leave hosts fighting to avert follow on

Up against 497/8, England seemed to have averted the risk of a follow on after Rory Burns (81) and Joe Root (71) took them to 166/2 less than an hour before stumps. Then Josh Hazlewood (4/48) got them in quick succession and added Jason Roy (22) to his tally. England were 200/5 when bad light stopped play early, eventually allowing just 64 overs of cricket in the day.

At the crease are Ben Stokes (7*) and Jonny Bairstow (2*), while Jos Buttler is yet to bat. However, with the new ball available in 6 overs, it is only a matter of time before the Australian fast bowlers go flat out in pursuit of the remaining 5 wickets. Not only do England have to weather the initial storm, they also have to avoid the follow on – and delay the start of the Australian innings by as long as possible.

Hazlewood struck early in the day, having night-watchman Craig Overton (5) caught at slip. Both Burns and Root took their time before gradually easing into their shots. They eventually added 141 before Burns edged one to slip.

Root fell leg-before to a ball that fell just short of a length but did not rise as expected. Roy left an enormous gap between bat and pad was bowled through the gate.

Key players

Ben Stokes (England): It has come down to Stokes again. Perhaps it is time to pace it the way he did at Headingley, slow against the new ball before taking the fast bowlers on. Then, perhaps later in the day, take out a wicket or two. It has been a summer like that for him.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia): As the series went on, Hazlewood has taken over the baton of the Australian spearhead from Pat Cummins. He took all 4 wickets to fall on Day 3, and will be at the English batsmen, armed with the new ball from the start.

Brief scores:

Australia 497/8 decl. (Steven Smith 211, Marnus Labuschagne 67, Tim Paine 58, Mitchell Starc 54*; Stuart Broad 3/97) lead England 200/5 (Rory Burns 81, Joe Root 71; Josh Hazlewood 4/48) by 297 runs.

Prediction

England to save follow on before getting thwarted by Smith.