Ashes 2019 5th Test, England vs Australia Day 4 preview: Have England pushed the total beyond even Smith?

England lead by 382 with two days in hand. They still have 2 wickets in hand, and while the batsmen in question are nine (Jofra Archer), ten (Jack Leach), and jack (Stuart Broad), none of them is quite a walking wicket. A target of 400 should have been safe against most sides, but with Steven Smith in the side, no target is large enough for Australia.

Even then, going into Day 4, England will be firm favourites to win this Test and level the series, which will sort of make up for conceding the urn. It has not been an easy day for their batsmen at the crease. The batting, ugly at times, was efficient nevertheless as they added 304 in 87 overs of cricket at a brisk rate.

The openers added 54 before Tim Paine showed exceptional reflexes to take a catch off Rory Burns’ (20) bottom edge, off Nathan Lyon (3/65). Joe Root (21) began brightly before edging one to Smith at slip, again off Lyon.

The big partnership came after lunch, with Joe Denly (94) and Ben Stokes (67) added 105 in the second session contrasting styles. While Denly set up tent, grafting his way through the session, Stokes looked in full flow. They eventually added 127 before Lyon produced a peach that pitched on middle and leg and turned to hit off.

Then Peter Siddle (2/52) had Denly caught by Smith at first slip off the thigh of Paine, who was standing up. Smith then dived to his left to catch Jonny Bairstow (14) spectacularly off Mitchell Marsh (2/40), while Pat Cummins (1/55) had Sam Curran (17) caught behind down the leg.

Then Smith pulled off another beauty, this time flying from second slip to catch Chris Woakes (6) off Marsh. Jos Buttler (47) threw his bat around before falling to another exceptional catch off Siddle: this time Marnus Labuschagne dove forward at deep square leg to send him back.

Key players

Jofra Archer (England): Archer, England’s find of the season, jolted Australia with 6/62 in the first innings, and indeed, throughout the summer. It is time, then, for that one final burst that may help England level the series.

Steven Smith (Australia): With over 750 runs in the series from 6 innings, Smith is realistically the only hurdle England have to overcome to win the Test. Smith’s lowest score in his last 10 Ashes outings has been 76: how much will he score this time?

Brief scores

England 294 (Jos Buttler 70, Joe Root 57; Mitchell Marsh 5/46, Pat Cummins 2/76) and 313/8 (Joe Denly 94, Ben Stokes 67; Nathan Lyon 3/65) lead Australia 225 (Steven Smith 80; Jofra Archer 6/62, Sam Curran 3/46) by 382 runs.

Prediction

England to set Australia a target in excess of 400 – and, who knows, perhaps wrap things up in four days?