SCORECARD

England have done so much right in this Test match. It is going better, already, than many feared. The tourists’ top order have fired, and the bowlers gutted Australia’s first four for 80. There’s barely been a mistake in the field. The plans have been smartly thought-through, and smartly executed.

And yet. The game remains in the balance (CricViz currently predicts Australia have a 44 per cent chance of victory, compared to 40 per cent England), and the Aussies might just have a nose in front. Plenty of work remains to even secure a first innings lead. Australia’s biggest wicket is still in the middle.

From there, England turned the screw but the cork would just not pop out. Australia scored 10 runs in 11 overs to start the final session; Smith went 77 balls without a boundary; Marsh went 24 balls between runs. But the storm was weathered and the pair had ground out 89 by stumps. England ended the day by employing the Yorkshire Wall – with five men catching close in front of square to Broad. You certainly cannot accuse them of a lack of industry and innovation.

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