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It was the call from the umpires about the dying light in Manchester and their instruction to Ben Stokes that only spinners would be allowed to roam that turned the day around so dramatically.
For 17 overs until then, after the opening session was washed away by torrential rain, England’s tailenders were disciplined but could not break the Australian resolve. Suddenly, Joe Root began weaving a clever combination of breaks and his front finger shot off the far volleys, and Mooen Ali still battled it out with his grip and control, producing enough drifting floats to keep the batsmen hooked hard. Then Root removed Marnus Labuschagne to press England forward before the clouds opened up again to dampen the rest of the day. As it stands, after 135 minutes and 30 runs on the fourth day, Australia follow 61 all out with five wickets intact and Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green still on.
Is there anything this guy can’t do!?
Joe Root got the hack. Come here! 💪 # England Cricket | # Ash pic.twitter.com/EFmDIex5pU
– England Cricket (englandcricket) July 22, 2023
Marnus Labuschagne with a well-made 111 and Mitch Marsh’s refusal to give up in the afternoon and due to the context of the game and the series it was a baffling affair despite the lack of real devils in play.
Eager to play on the front foot, and maybe the roller in the morning to prevent any low-bounce bumps from the turf, Labuschagne and Marsh were very vigilant.
Very early in the piece, when Marsh went on an intense shot that fell just out of reach of Moen Ali at deep square leg, former England captain Michael Atherton said: “Imagine you hide like that in the Ashes game, you have to save, you have to bat just two hours before it rains!” Marsh then pulled up the middle, and Labuschagne, who had had a sub-par series up to this game, erected his own wall of resistance.
Although there wasn’t much action, the context was enough for an enjoyable encounter: an ever-exciting crowd, ambitious English players, and a killer Aussies who’d found a way to keep everyone hooked.
We are in the middle of the road again but in the stadium with 8.500 people 🎺# Ash pic.twitter.com/E8oG0NEdzR
– English Barmy Army July 22, 2023
The only possible ray of light for batteries this good was the variable recoil projected from the wing end in particular. On the morning, before the start, Jonny Bristow was on his knees looking up at the surface exactly 6.63m from the stumps at the spot where Josh Hazlewood rolled at ankle height to take out Joe Root on Friday. Can that spot be identified and turned into a weapon?
Perhaps, the roller was pressed against the grass in the morning, there wasn’t much surprise from that spot. Not that tailors in England tried too hard. Mark Wood, who’s been having landing spot problems, squirms in piles of saw dust, searching for his shorts or plump stuff. does not work. Chris Walks experimented with his flawless length; This didn’t work. James Anderson who could have tried that place was fuller than usual. Everyone is undoubtedly looking to see if they can extract some action. Stuart Broad experimented with this length but with no sun out at all the court held up well.
It was then that the umpires spoke to Stokes about the light. Moayad Ali and Joe Root are out. In the second part of the day, Root would show he would be the bigger threat of the two, when he pressed his finger to the seam and stunned Labuschagne with a lovely puckered wide. Caught by surprise, Labuschagne prodded on his front foot, past her, but went too fast for Zach Crowley to react at first slip. But it was a big moment in the play.
🔊 Alexa, you make me feel sad.# Ash pic.twitter.com/l9Ayy77Div
– English Barmy Army July 22, 2023
England began massing the batsmen with their near fielders as Root ran through his full armour: high-arm shooting when he wanted to bounce, odd ball for arm ball, twisting seam shooting for leg-breaking shadow, round-arm sliders.
Labuschagne who fell completely to a regulation break from Mooen was played in the first innings. He colorized Root a few six years early, before the front-toed curler, and then although he got wary, he was strong on defence. However, one could sense a little malaise, perhaps caution, as Root continued to press on.
Seeing a small ball outside, Labuschagne relaxed for the cut. mistake. Palled and gone, with a little help from the DRS captured by England.
Moein is also starting to find his rhythm – not as good as it could be but definitely better than Friday’s. On the last ball before tea he was shouting for a catch in front of Cameron Green, who was also poor with the bat in this series, but there was no bat – only the pads. Soon the rains returned and that was it. Will items fall back to open the last day gameplay portal?
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