Ashes 2021-22: For England to get back into the game, they needed to bundle out Australia as soon as possible at the start of Day 3 of the first Test. However, Australia frustrated England and added 82 runs in the first session and took the total to a massive 425. Travis Head went on to score 152 off just 148 balls, while Mitchell Starc added 35 off 64 deliveries. For England, Mark Wood and Robinson both ended with 3 wickets each, while Woakes picked two. Jack Lean gave 102 runs in 13 overs for a wicket.
England needed a solid partnership at the top of the order to save the Test, let alone win it. Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns showed some defiance and by the end of the Lunch, England had lost no wicket for 23 runs. However, the openers didn’t stay too long after Lunch. Starc accounted for the wicket of Burns in the first over of the second session. Hameed got out after scoring 27 runs off 58 deliveries, while Rory Burns scored 13 off 27 balls. By the end of 21 overs, England had lost both their openers for 61.
Australia looked resolute to pick all ten wickets on Day 3 only. However, a sensational unbeaten partnership for the third wicket between David Malan and Joe Root has put the game in the balance. Malan looked rusty at the start of his innings but gained momentum gradually. Root too backed played some beautiful shots and got to the tea on 26* off 39. Malan and Root continued to pile on runs and frustrate the bowlers for the remainder of the day.
Aussie failed to pick wickets further in the day as England went on to score 220 runs for 2 wickets at the end of the third day’s play. Despite, that England is currently 58 runs short of Australia’s first-innings lead. Root and Malan are currently unbeaten on 86 (158) and 80 (177). The first hour of tomorrow will be extremely crucial for both sides. It will be interesting to see things turn out on Saturday.
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