The Ashes: Fourth Test, Day Three – Player Ratings
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England began Day Three on 192/2, still trailing Australia by 135 runs and they were hoping to put themselves in a commanding position.
By the end of the day, they’d done just that. Mainly thanks to Alastair Cook, the tourists ended the day on 491/9, meaning they had a lead of 164 runs.
Here’s how the players rated during the day’s play.
Alastair Cook - 10
The Ali Cook of old! Ended the day on 244*, his highest score against Australia. He played superbly, just picking off the tiring bowlers. It was a magnificent innings from a magnificent player. After a very tough series, it was reassuring to see that Cook’s dip was just a bad run of form rather than a loss of ability or desire.
Joe Root - 4
Looked in great nick as he got to 61 before he played a terrible shot to a short ball from Pat Cunmins and the ball went straight up in the air. Another time where Root passed 50 but didn’t make a century
Dawid Malan - 3
If you thought James Vince not knowing he’d hit the ball before he was given out was bad, well, Malan’s was much worse. He middled the ball onto his pad after reaching 14 but inexplicably didn’t review.
Jonny Bairstow- 4
Looked in good order as he reached 22 before he unwisely tried to cut a ball from Nathan Lyon. He edged it and Tim Paine took an excellent catch.
Moeen Ali - 4
Doesn’t trust himself at all so went for a slog. Got to 20 before Lyon got him again and it was another really ugly shot.
Chris Woakes - 5
Took England into a lead by scoring a nice 26, putting on a good partnership of 59 with Cook before getting out to a short ball from Cummins.
Tom Curran - 0
Didn’t hang around long with the bat as he was caught behind by Paine from a Hazlewood delivery.
Stuart Broad - 8
Remember when Stuart Broad could bat? Well, if you can’t, he gave a reminder here with a wonderful innings, in which he scored 56.
He attacked well and was a bit unfortunate to be given out as he miss hit a short ball towards Usman Khawaja, who ran in and attempted a diving catch.
It appeared that the Australian fumbled the ball but when the soft signal from the on field umpires was out, there was no conclusive evidence to overturn it.
James Anderson - 5
Survived 15 balls as he looked to shepherd Cook to a score of 250+.
Josh Hazlewood - 7
Was the man who benefited when Malan decided not to review his LBW. Bowled with decent control and got Curran caught behind too.
Pat Cummins - 7
Took the wickets of Root, Woakes and Broad with good short balls but was still a tad expensive at times.
Jackson Bird - 7
Looked a class below the other Australian bowlers. He lacked pace or any real menace.
Nathan Lyon - 7
Continued his great form by getting rid of Bairstow and Moeen Ali again. Coped pretty well as England tried to counter attack against him.
Mitch Marsh- 2
The Australian fifth seamer looks like he’s just there to give the other bowlers a rest. Didn’t look dangerous at all on a slow pitch.