Ashes 2023 | Bairstow's Bazball Antics and Mark Wood's Rapid Bullets Highlight England Dominance On Day 3

Jonny Bairstow plays a shot on Day 3 (Twitter)

England amassed 592 following a brutal 81-ball assault from Jonny Bairstow. The wicketkeeper batted with the tail and plundered 99 undefeated runs, before he was left stranded one short of a well-deserved century.

Having gathered a massive 275-run first innings lead, the hosts struck four times late in the day as Australia face an uphill task in saving the fourth Ashes 2023 Test at Manchester’s Old Trafford.

England continue all-out batting assault on Day 3

England, resuming at 384-4, faced just additional 35 overs on Day 3 to add 208 more runs to their total. Captain Ben Stokes became their first casualty of the morning after scoring a scintillating 51, while his overnight partner Harry Brook silently completed his half-century from the other end.

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Lower-order failed to wag and England soon found themselves at their edge at 526-9. However, Jonny Bairstow formed a breathtaking 66-run stand with number 11 James Anderson. The wicketkeeper himself raced to 99* from just 81 balls, and only missed out on his century courtesy of Anderson’s dismissal at the other end.

Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers from the Australian camp, as he claimed five wickets during his industrious 27-over spell throughout England’s first innings.

Mark Wood’s triple strike jolts Australia before stumps

Chasing 275 runs just to wipe out their daunting first-innings deficit, Australian openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja started cautiously to negate the Stuart Broad-James Anderson new ball threat.

Despite shrugging off the duo’s opening spell, Khawaja succumbed to Mark Wood’s bouncer off his first over of the innings. Warner soon followed suite as he chopped one onto his stumps against in-form Chris Woakes.

Wood claimed two more wickets late in the day, including that of dangermen Steve Smith and Travis Head as Australia slumped to 113-4 by stumps.

Still 162 runs behind their deficit, Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Mitchell Marsh (1*) will resume Australia’s second innings response on Day 4.

Brief Scores:

Australia: 317 (90.2)
Mitchell Marsh 51 (60), Marnus Labuschagne 51 (115)
Chris Woakes 5-62 (22.2), Stuart Broad 2-68 (14)

England: 592 (107.4)
Zak Crawley 189 (182), Jonny Bairstow 99* (81)
Josh Hazlewood 5-126 (27), Cameron Green 2-64 (15.4)

Australia: 113-4 (41)
Marnus Labuschagne 44* (88), David Warner 28 (53)
Mark Wood 3-17 (7), Chris Woakes 1-18 (9)

Australia trail by 162 runs

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