Sports reporter/

Jack Crawley–Ben Duckett set the tone for the innings. Joe Root-Jonny Bairstow was advancing on it. It seemed that England’s total at the Oval, like the Manchester Test, would easily cross 500.

But after Root, who was playing well, fell victim to the ‘shaky nineties’, no more big pairs were formed. England have lost their last 5 wickets for 47 runs. However, England is on the way to throw a big target to Australia.

Australia took a lead of 12 runs in the first innings yesterday. Batting all day yesterday, England lost 9 wickets in 80 overs and made 389 runs; Ahead by 377 runs. Australia’s target of 400 or more would have been the crux of the discussion if Stuart Broad had not announced his retirement from cricket after the third day’s play. But Broad’s announcement made all the rest of the events a little less clear.

Joe Root did not get a century on this day. 91 runs off 106 balls with 11 fours and a six
Crawley’s brilliant cover drive came for a boundary off the first ball of the day at the London Oval yesterday. The rest of the batting kept that initial attitude throughout the day. Five of the first six have touched at least 40 runs. Fifty came from the bat of three of them. The lead has also crossed 1500.

Shortly after leaving the field unbeaten with his beloved teammate Jimmy Anderson, Broad suddenly announced his retirement from cricket. The 37-year-old pacer, who reached the milestone of 600 Test wickets in this series, said that this is the last match of his professional career.

He played innings. Opener Crawley made 73 off 76 balls with 9 fours. 78 runs from Jonny Bairstow’s bat. Australian pacer Mitchell Starc and off-spinner Todd Murphy took 7 wickets together. Starc’s five wickets will be completed if Broad or Anderson can be dismissed on the fourth day today.

The match is still two days away. Having already secured the ‘ashtray’, Australia will have to create a record if they want to win the series in England after 22 years. Chasing the highest target of 263 in the fourth innings at the Oval, England won the 1902 Ashes by 1 wicket.