The Ashes: Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad combine to keep England’s hopes alive vs Australia | Cricket News

Chris Woakes (4-52) and Stuart Broad (2-68) stored England within the Ashes as Australia closed on 299-8 after the opening day of the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

With anticipation and a small probability of rain within the air, there was no telling who was going to have the higher hand on the finish of the day however because the climate held out, a vital night session helped England again into the competition.

Australia entered the ultimate session of the day on 187-4 after strong showings from Marnus Labuschagne (51) and Steve Smith (41) however simply 5 balls after tea, Broad introduced up his milestone 600th Test wicket by dismissing Travis Head (48).

Woakes then muted Australia’s assault within the house of 1 over, taking out Cameron Green (16) by way of lbw earlier than eradicating the dangerman Mitchell Marsh (51) simply three balls later as Jonny Bairstow took a sensational catch, ending Marsh’s troublesome virtually run-a-ball innings.

Mitchell Starc (23no) and Alex Carey (20) then battled valiantly till the brand new ball arrived however with the latter falling to Woakes with simply over ten minutes remaining of the day, England nonetheless have work to do however will stay hopeful they will eke a consequence out of this Ashes-defining Test earlier than rain hits later within the week.

Australian partnerships frustrate as wickets are exhausting earnt

The ever-reliable Broad was handed the primary ball of the fourth Test and he took his probability to take a look at the Aussie openers early on, discovering the breakthrough for his 599th Test wicket and pinning Usman Khawaja (3) for lbw in simply the fifth over of the day.

As the solar then started to break by the clouds David Warner (32) was taking part in properly, however he cheaply nicked one behind from Woakes’ full supply to the ready Bairstow to put Australia on 61-2 after simply over an hour of play.

Smith and Labuschagne then placed on a 59-run partnership that took Australia to 107-2 on the shut of the primary session however England pounced straight after the break, Wood eradicating the important thing wicket of Smith by way of lbw, a 92mph supply clearly heading for the highest of the center stump and given after England opted for the evaluate.

Despite the much-needed wicket, Head and Labuschagne then took management and weathered a barrage of seam bowling to safe a 50-partnership and they regarded as in the event that they have been in for the lengthy haul because the frenetic Labuschagne of the primary three Tests was gone.

However, England turned to spin bowling and it labored, Labuschagne citing his first half-century of the collection then falling on the subsequent supply he confronted for lbw, England choosing a great evaluate as Moeen Ali’s (1-65) supply was proven to be taking off the highest of leg stump.

Broad’s landmark second then lastly arrived within the first over after tea as Head pulled the quick ball out to a ready Joe Root, securing the England talisman’s 600th Test wicket and lowering Australia to 189-5.

England then continued to assault and it was Woakes who returned and took centre stage, securing the wickets of each Green and Marsh inside the similar over, Bairstow taking a superb diving catch for the latter to put the guests on the again foot.

Woakes then starred once more to deliver a irritating 39-run stand between Carey and Starc to an finish, leaving Australia 299-8 and the match within the stability heading into day two.

Jimmy Anderson was the one England bowler not to take a wicket as he ended the day 0-43.

Watch day two of the fourth Ashes Test dwell on Sky Sports Cricket on Thursday July 20. Build-up from 10.15am, first ball at 11am. You can stream the boys’s and girls’s Ashes collection on NOW.