There was a time when England players threw around phrases like “the more runs, the better” such was their confidence in the chase. But tasked with knocking off a world record 435 runs to stop Australia winning this Ashes series at the earliest opportunity, one suspects it was not said on Saturday.
Instead, having picked up six cheap wickets first thing to set up this unlikely five-session challenge, it was about seeing where they could get to by stumps on day four. The upshot was 207 for six from 63 overs which, while progress of sorts on this malfunctioning tour, means Australia will go into the final day of this third Test on the verge of an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Still, Pat Cummins and his men seem like a patient bunch. They probably never so much as peeled back the wrapping on their presents before Christmas Day growing up. Operating on a flat, sun-baked surface at Adelaide Oval this quality paid dividends as three wickets apiece for Cummins and Nathan Lyon clinically shut down any England thoughts of a miracle.
Believe it or not, they had been semi-percolating. In the 48th over, England had patiently chiselled their way to 177 for three and, save for Cummins and his remarkable ability to conjure something out of nothing, very little was happening. Zak Crawley was in the zone and Harry Brook was 30 runs into his work, only mildly unsettled by Alex Carey’s presence up at the stumps.
But then it happened, Brook dropping down to reverse sweep Lyon, meeting fresh air, and hearing a ripping off-break clatter into leg stump. It triggered a collapse of three for 17 in 38 balls. Ben Stokes was bowled neck and crop for five by Lyon, before the off-spinner drew Crawley forward, beat him on the inside edge, and Carey happily completed the stumping.
It was a beautiful demonstration of drift and spin from Lyon, whose return along with Cummins this week has augmented an already dominant Australian attack. The 38-year-old was driving the roller at Adelaide Oval the last time England won here back in late 2010 – now only Shane Warne, 708, has more than his 567 Test wickets for Australia.
Zak Crawley offers England some hope of a Christmas miracle with a half-century on day four of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson/PA
If nothing else, Crawley’s steady accumulation of 85 from 151 balls confirmed Bazball’s extinction, while orders from Stokes to summon up the spirit of Lord’s during the summer were taken literally with some time-wasting before lunch. Unlike India, Cummins saw the funny side at least.
His innings also ensured that this Ashes series would not be lost in the space of 10 days. As it is, with Jamie Smith and Will Jacks set to resume in the morning, England will have to settle for the ignominy of 11 – a share of the post-war record with Nasser Hussain’s teams of 2001 and 2002-03.
As Crawley was getting his head down, two of his top-three colleagues sat in the pavilion and stewed on what continue to be downtrodden tours. At this stage, as much as it would be a Hail Mary in itself given his lack of a first-class century, Jacob Bethell will surely enter the equation for Boxing Day.
A longstanding (and previously successful) alliance with Crawley means Ben Duckett – highest score of 29 so far – is unlikely to make way. But the left-hander is one of a number who seems scrambled. The pre-series chatter about his desire to feel bat on ball being perilous in this part of the world has also proved sounder than some of the, ahem, predicted scorelines.
Marnus Labuschagne celebrates taking the wicket of Ollie Pope. Photograph: Nigel Owen/Action Plus/Shutterstock
After England finally discovered the equation – Travis Head eventually holed out on 170, Australia were 349 all out – it took just two balls from the laser-focused Cummins to profit in this exact manner. A loosener was whipped for four by Duckett but then came a sixth stump lifter from around the wicket that, courtesy of a meek angled poke, flew to second slip.
Ollie Pope, who fell after lunch, could consider himself more unlucky in one regard. Marnus Labuschagne’s second catch in the cordon was a jaw-dropper, diving low to his left and, to underline its freakishness, it drew coos from Mark Waugh on commentary. And yet the edge Cummins drew here also felt inevitable, Pope once again offering little sense of permanence at the crease and his final score of 17 in line with his overall Ashes average.
For the fourth time in the series it meant Joe Root striding out inside the first 10 overs and from 31 for two, resistance formed. An initial duel with the ever-probing Cummins was survived. Lyon’s first spell was met with authoritative, calculated sweeps. And for just shy of 20 overs, as he and Crawley guided England through to 106 for two by tea, Adelaide Oval appeared as tranquil as its neighbouring parkland.
Enter Cummins after the break, ensuring Root’s lucky escape on 38 – padding up to the twirly spin of Head and surviving a review on umpire’s call – made little difference. The 13th time Cummins has knocked over England’s master was a very familiar dismissal, inducing a poke behind through a tight fourth stump line that had Root punching his bat in disgust.
For Stokes, later on, the reaction to getting out was simply a nod of the head towards Lyon. Like the notion of “more runs the better” when it comes to fourth-innings chases, his stated aim of becoming one of the “lucky few” England captains to win in Australia has unfortunately not aged well.