Ashes 2023 as it happened: Australia have to make Oval history as England eye big target

Mark Wood reverse sweeps the first ball from Todd Murphy for four. The next, he heaves with everything he has but it only gets as far as deep mid-wicket. Mitchell Marsh makes no mistake underneath it and suddenly Australia are in danger of batting today.

By my count, a wicket in the next three minutes will make that happen, otherwise, we wait until tomorrow. Yep, neither side wants this to happen - both teams are dawdling and stretching this ball out to ensure a wicket isn’t taken before 6.20pm local time. After it, that’s fine, because the 10-minute innings change-over takes us through to stumps.

And now we’re assured that Australia won’t have to bat, Jimmy Anderson is trying to reverse sweep everything in sight. Trying is the operative word. Crowd loves it.

England 9-379: Broad 0*, Anderson 0*. England lead by 367 runs.

And another one bites the dust - Queen’s Brian May was in the building yesterday after all.

Moeen Ali tries to ramp a short ball over the keeper and he does so. But Josh Hazlewood is lurking at a pretty fine third man down there on the boundary and runs around for a sharp catch. Ali goes for 29 and Starc has four wickets now. Stuart Broad to the crease. Expect the fireworks to continue.

England 8-379: Ali 29, Wood 9*. England lead by 367 runs.

No fun for Chris Woakes with the bat today, although it does bring Mark Wood to the wicket. Woakes chips that one from Mitchell Starc on the up to Usman Khawaja at mid-off. Simple catch.

Australia would love to knock Wood and a hamstrung Ali over as soon as humanly possible, because neither of them will be dealing in singles.

And Steve Smith almost does damage chasing a Moeen Ali hook shot over the rope. Great shot by Ali and Smith is diving at full stretch to try and keep it from going over the rope. He can’t, and he slides into the fence in the process - grimacing, but he’s ok.

England 7-370: Ali 27*, Wood 1*. England lead by 357 runs.

And fair play to Jonny Bairstow, he’s copped it from all quarters, in particular regarding his wicket-keeping. But with a massive break due to a horrifically broken leg, his past year and a bit with the bat has been superb since Brendon McCullum took charge of England.

Since the start of England’s last home summer against New Zealand, he’s been imperious in England’s middle order, with four hundreds and 99* at Manchester.

A slog sweep of Todd Murphy earlier, just before falling to Starc took him past 1000 runs in that period. And again, with a badly broken leg that ruled him out of the game for several months in the middle of all that.

An LBW appeal against Jonny Bairstow is turned down by umpire Joel Wilson. Australia send it upstairs with Mitchell Starc pretty vocal. Hot spot shows an inside edge and the review is burned.

A short ball then hits him in the midriff. Starc joins in with the crowd appeal.

Aaaaaaand no doubt about the third one. He swipes at a full ball outside off and only gets enough on it for a simple catch for Alex Carey.

England 6-360: Bairstow 78, Ali 18*. England lead by 348 runs.

Moeen Ali is moving very gingerly with that groin issue. But he’s still crunching Todd Murphy especially around The Oval and he has a couple of very impressive boundaries in his 14 runs so far.

Cops one off the glove and into his helmet from Mitchell Starc, but he’s all good.

Until Australia decide to go after him, bringing a bat-pad in with a helmet and Starc ramps up the short balls.

First one, he hooks down to fine leg. Josh Hazlewood and Steve Smith are split in the deep and can’t get there. Ali won’t hang about here, he’s certainly ready to throw his hands at this short-ball assault.

England 5-357: Bairstow 77*, Ali 18*. England lead by 345 runs.

Bowled him! Joe Root gets an absolute stitch up on 91 with a century on offer. Murphy spins one back sharply and it sneaks through at ankle high, keeping extra, extra low and takes the inside edge onto the stumps.

Well bowled by Todd Murphy, attacking line outside off to draw the stroke and another deserved breakthrough - he’s persevered all day.

But that low shooting delivery should have Australia worried. First signs of life in this pitch with two days to play and the tourists are batting last. Moeen Ali to the crease now.

England 5-333: Root 91, Bairstow 70*. England lead by 321 runs.

Josh Hazlewood is suddenly getting some reverse swing in the 61st over, twice ducking balls back in to Joe Root. Australia sorely need something, anything right now, because England are right at home out there.

Root is eyeing a century here to go with his 118* on the opening day of the series at Birmingham. That said, Jonny Bairstow has almost reeled him in. Root was already on 52 when Bairstow joined him at the crease.

He’s since scored 67 in a 95-run partnership and England’s lead is now beyond 300.

Cummins brings himself back into the attack and again, a wee bit of movement as Root plays and misses.

England 4-317: Root 79*, Bairstow 67*. England lead by 305 runs.