England’s Mark Wood produced a stunning spell on Day 3 of the Ashes 4th Test to put his team on the brink of victory against Australia at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. At stumps, Australia were struggling at 113-4, with Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh trying to hold the fort for their team.
The day started with England resuming their innings at 487-7, and it was Jonny Bairstow who led the charge. Bairstow played an excellent knock, narrowly missing out on a century as he remained unbeaten on 99*. His innings helped England extend their lead to a massive 275 runs, as they were eventually bowled out for 592.
Australia’s bowlers struggled to contain the English batsmen, with Bairstow and Harry Brook forming a strong partnership. However, Josh Hazlewood made a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Brook for a well-made 61. He followed it up with the wicket of Chris Woakes, who departed without troubling the scorers.
As England crossed the 500-run mark, Hazlewood struck again, removing Mark Wood on the final ball of the first session. Australia ended the session on a high note, but they still faced an uphill battle to save the Test match.
In their second innings, Australia got off to a shaky start, losing Usman Khawaja and David Warner early. Khawaja fell victim to the sheer pace of Mark Wood, while Warner was dismissed by Chris Woakes. The experienced duo failed to make a significant impact, leaving Australia in a precarious position.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith formed a partnership to stabilize Australia’s innings, but Wood struck once again to dismiss Smith for 17. Travis Head, who was expected to make an impact, was sent back to the pavilion with just one run to his name, courtesy of Wood.
Marsh and Labuschagne held firm until the end of the day, ensuring that Australia avoided any further setbacks. However, with England firmly in control and looking to level the series, the odds were stacked against the visitors.
With Australia at 113-4, still trailing by 162 runs, they will rely heavily on Labuschagne and Marsh to lead their fightback on Day 4. Meanwhile, England will be eager to wrap up the remaining Australian wickets quickly and claim victory to keep their Ashes hopes alive.
The fourth day of the Test promises to be a thrilling one, as both teams battle it out for supremacy. England will be looking to maintain their dominance with the ball, while Australia will be determined to stage a comeback. Only time will tell who will emerge triumphant in this gripping encounter.
