Ashes 2023: 2nd Test | Day 4 – Review

Ashes 2023 2nd Test Day 4 Review

Ashes 2023 2nd Test Day 4 Review, ENG vs AUS 2nd Test, ENG vs AUS 2nd Test Day 4 Highlight, ENG vs AUS 2nd Test Day 4 Match Updates, England vs Australia 2nd Test Day 4, Ashes 2023 Day 1 2nd Test, Ashes 2023 2nd Test.

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Australia was in a commanding position at the start of day four. They were 130-2 in the second innings with a lead of 221. Australia was expected to pile up on the runs quickly to put England under the pump. Usman Khawaja who has had a terrific Ashes so far continued to be rock solid as Steve Smith joined him late on day 3. The pair went about their game nonchalantly. England looked flat and was in search of answers leading into day four.

Ashes 2023 2nd Test Day 4 Review We review day four of the 2nd Test between England and Australia:

#1 The first hour belonged to Australia

Australia started the day on a strong note. Both Khawaja and Smith looked unperturbed right through their stay. The first hour saw the Australian pair go about their business in the usual fashion. At drinks on day four of the first hour, it all seemed like one-way traffic.

England resorted to short ball ploy in the second hour of the opening session. They were immediately rewarded with the wickets of Khawaja, Smith, and Travis Head. The first session still was largely Australia’s as they scored 92 and ended up being even despite losing three key wickets.

#2 England bowled 98% short balls in the second session

The second session was arguably the most gripping of all during this Test. Buoyed by the results of their second-hour stuff, England went on a complete short-ball barrage. Australian batsmen caught in two minds had little clue.

Most of the batters stuck to being overtly defensive but still lost their wickets on the odd occasion of upping the score. From being 187-2 at one stage to being bowled out for 279, Australia once again suffered a collapse. They stretched their lead to 370.

#3 Nathan Lyon’s lion-hearted display 

Australia’s batting tactics in the second innings seemed bizarre. Their batters went nowhere with their defensive mindsets. They kept taking out time from the Test. Just when it appeared that Australia would declare at the fall of Cummins’ wicket, Josh Hazlewood came on to bat. It though didn’t end there. Australia asked a limping Nathan Lyon to bat.

The lead was already past 350 (353) but Australia was in search of a few more runs. Lyon along with Mitchell Starc batted for around five overs scoring 15 runs. The off-spinner might have troubled his body even more in a strange turn of events.

#4 Australia blow away England with the new ball

There were doubts raised over Mitchell Starc’s inclusion in this Test. The left-arm seamer has blown hot in both innings of the Test so far. He induced a leg trap to dismiss Zak Crawley. Starc then bowled an absolute peach to dislodge Ollie Pope. England’s number 3 had no answer to Starc’s inswinger. 

Cummins then bowled two beauties to break England’s much-acclaimed middle order. He got one to bounce a wee bit extra to have Joe Root fend one to slip. Cummins then used his outswinger to dismantle Harry Brook’s off stump. England was reeling at 45-4.

#5 Two Ben’s combine and a controversy ensued 

The final session of day four wasn’t without drama. Ben Duckett carried from where he left off in the first innings. He looked assured right through. Duckett found an able ally in his captain Ben Stokes. The pair have put on an unbeaten partnership of 69 so far. England though had almost lost their fifth wicket when Duckett aired one to Starc at fine leg. Australia started celebrating but the third umpire felt that Starc’s body was not in control at the point of the catch being completed. 

The crowd let out a massive roar as the pair was undisturbed at the end. England needs a further 257 runs while Australia needs 6 more wickets. The memories of Headingley have already started surfacing. It promises to be a humdinger of a final day.