After an absorbing fourth day in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, England seamer Chris Woakes said that the game hangs in the balance, and believes that either team is in with a chance of clinching the win on day five.
“Incredible game so far, and of course I think we can win the game, but all three results are still possible,” Woakes said on Saturday, August 17.
“It’s a great game to be a part of; when I envisaged Test and Ashes cricket as a child, this is what I envisaged it being like. It’s pretty much in the balance.”
“Lord’s was woken up from a game drifting into obscurity. But Smith wasn’t to be forced into submission.”@Taha_Wisden reports on an extraordinary day at Lord’s. https://t.co/rmrsPv2WpI
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 17, 2019
England are currently sitting on a lead of 104, having dismissed Australia for 250 and then gone into stumps on the fourth day at 96-4. They got off to a shaky start, after Pat Cummins dismissed Jason Roy and captain Joe Root in successive balls in the fifth over. Rory Burns and Joe Denly then led the recovery, putting on a crucial 55-run stand for the third wicket.
“It took a serious spell of bowling from Jofra to kind of get Steve out of his bubble,” Woakes said. “It was incredible to be a part of it out on the field.
“Ashes cricket is played hard and tough, but you still don’t wish injury on anyone.”
