‘Hope weather does not kill a cracking Test’ – Fans react as England hammer Australia on Day 3 of 4th Ashes Test, take whopping 275-run lead

Ashes (Source: Twitter)

The fourth Test of the Ashes series between England and Australia has been thoroughly dominated by the home side so far. At the end of the third day, Australia finished with 113/4 as England still have a resounding lead of 162 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh are in the middle for Australia with scores of 44(88) and 1(27) respectively.

England started the third day with a lead of 67 runs. The batters who were unbeaten at the end of the second day, continued and scored fifty each. The captain Ben Stokes scored 51(74) and Harry Brook scored 61(100). After they were dismissed, the wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow took charge and upped the ante for England.

The 33-year-old smashed the bowlers all around the park and looked his self-best. The terrific knock of Bairstow not just entertained the crowd, but also helped England to have a mammoth lead of 275 runs in the first innings. Bairstow scored 99 runs in just 81 deliveries and remained unbeaten. Very unfortunate that he could not get to his hundred.

England march ahead in the game

Bairstow had done his job though. In a limited time, the Yorkshireman scored a lot of runs at a very good rate. With rain forecast for the rest of the Test, it was exactly what England needed from him. The innings of Bairstow almost ruled out the loss of England.

With that confidence, English bowlers steamed in with full intent against the Australian batters. James Anderson was accurate and economical. Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali went for some runs, which prompted Stokes to get in Mark Wood and Chris Woakes. The two bowlers turned out to be the star for the home side.
Mark Wood bowled a sensational spell and got the big wickets of Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Travis Head. In a sensational spell of fast bowling, Wood put his team in a dominating position in the Test. Chris Woakes got the wicket of David Warner and helped England to inch closer to victory.

Here’s how the fans reacted to the day’s play –