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Stumps: Australia lead by 12 runs
Another enthralling day’s cricket, we don’t seem to deal in anything else this series.
Australia edge ahead thanks to the cavalier stroke play of Todd Murphy and rear guard efforts from Steve Smith and Pat Cummins when England had been eyeing a significant lead in a low-scoring match.
Steve Smith tries to make his ground.Credit: Reuters
Today had a bit of everything, stone walling Australians, excellent English bowling, dramatic reviews and here we are once more - basically at even stevens.
Australia, maybe, just, with a slight advantage given Moeen Ali’s injury prevented him from bowling today and is expected to keep hampering him. But even half a session of Bazball on day three can swing the contest either way. Until then.
Wicket: Stokes pulls off boundary blinder
Joe Root into the attack and first ball, Pat Cummins heaves him down to a wide long-on.
Ben Stokes on the boundary looks to have saved six runs and pulled off a fine catch on the rope, grabbing the ball out of the air, tossing it up to himself as he walked back over the rope and then catching it to complete the dismissal and the innings.
Fair effort that. And a pretty fitting end to the innings. Well played by Pat Cummins, out for 36 from 86 runs. Australia lead by 12 runs, that’s stumps with the end of the innings.
10 minutes left, and England won’t bat today
Jimmy Anderson with a slower ball trying to knock over Pat Cummins. But the mucking around in the field ensures England won’t bat today given the 6.30pm local time end of play and the 10-minute innings changeover.
Australia: 9-293, Cummins 36* Hazlewood 4*, Australia lead by 10 runs
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LBW review: Murphy is sent packing
Chris Woakes sneaks one past Todd Murphy’s bat from around the wicket. Angling in and given out on-field.
Murphy reviews but it’s to no avail. The decision stands, hitting in line and halfway up middle and leg. That was a very fun, crucial innings from Murphy. Woakes has his third wicket of the innings.
Australia: 9-288, Cummins 35* Murphy 34, Australia lead by 5 runs
Australia take the lead
Another boundary for Todd Murphy, whips down to fine leg, before another single to square leg takes Australia in front.
Very rarely, or at least it seems that way, is Australia on the right side of crucial lower order runs. To think Pat Cummins came to the crease at 7-185.
Partnerships of 54 (with Steve Smith) and 47 from just 55 balls with Murphy. The No.10 has played Mark Wood as well as any Australian, maybe Bazball is the best approach with the speedster.
Australia: 8-286, Cummins 35* Murphy 32*, Australia lead by 3 runs
Watch: Murphy crunches Wood over the rope, three times
Todd Murphy, he’s flying. Two sixes in the one over from Mark Wood. Loving the pace of the ball onto the bat and happy to swipe the hip high offerings up over Ben Stokes’ head. Follows a boundary behind backward point from Woakes in the previous over too.
Murphy’s rattled up a quickfire 24 at better than a run a ball and suddenly England’s lead has disappeared.
Australia: 8-273, Cummins 30* Murphy 24*, Australia trail by 10 runs
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Moeen’s injury will force an English reshuffle
When England do return to the crease, No.3 Moeen Ali has been off the field all day, and so rules dictate he can’t just waltz back in and bat - though whether he actually can given his groin strain is also an issue.
So options for England, Joe Root to three, Harry Brook back up the order to three or... Stuart Broad - the Night Hawk. Decisions, decisions.
Meanwhile, Todd Murphy hoiks a pull shot off his hip all the way for six from Mark Wood. Superb timing, and not a bad way to get off the mark.
Australia: 8-248, Cummins 25* Murphy 6*, Australia trail by 35 runs
Wicket: Smith falls trying to hit out
And just like that, Steve Smith is gone. Effectively throwing it away too. Frantic few minutes, gets a leading edge trying to whip through the leg-side.
It flies high and down towards third man, Jonny Bairstow running back takes a comfortable catch. Game turns again.
Risky, out of character shot from Smith with another Oval hundred beckoning. Todd Murphy to the crease now with Mark Wood steaming in.
Australia: 8-240, Cummins 23* Murphy 0*, Australia trail by 43 runs
Stats: Steve Smith averages 100 at The Oval
Doesn’t mind the deck at Kennington Steve Smith. As it stands - he’s scored 617 runs at The Oval from five matches at 102.33.
And as soon as we post this, Smith almost throws his wicket away. Steps down the track to Chris Woakes and throws the kitchen sink at it. Skies a ball back over his head to long-off but it’s gone too far for Stuart Broad to get back for a catch.
Australia: 7-239, Smith 71* Cummins 22*, Australia trail by 44 runs
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Smith and Cummins make a stand
Sunshine just sneaking through in London. That new ball will keep swinging but Australia will take any help they can get.
“Best batting conditions of the game” according to Nasser Hussain. Cummins and Smith have added 43 together now, and 27 since the new ball was taken - so they’re going at four an over.
Australia: 7-228, Smith 65* Cummins 17*, Australia trail by 55 runs
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