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Ashes 2023 | Starc, Cummins’ New-Ball Burst Forces ENG To Ponder Run-Chase Strategy

image-ljkaitthMitchell Starc celebrates a wicket with teammates on Day 4 (Twitter)

Australia, with an overnight lead of 219, stretched the same till 370 to give England a daunting task at Lord's. Usman Khawaja top-scored in the innings to form a fluent 77, all while spending nearly five hours at the crease showcasing tremendous grit and resolve.

Remarkably, Australia looked all settled to gather an even bigger lead at 187-2. But Khawaja's untimely dismissal triggered a batting collapse within the visitors' camp as they lost their final eight wickets for just 92 additional runs.

Meanwhile, England, in pursuit of a stiff 371-run target to level the series, fell flat to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins' new-ball thunderbolts late on Day 4.


Broad snares four to limit Australia’s lead

Seasoned English speedster Stuart Broad provided his side a much-needed breakthrough in his first over of the day. The paceman accounted for Khawaja's wicket and dismissed Travis Head a while later to bring England back into the contest.

Broad also polished off the tail, as Australia's second innings response was dusted out for 279. Fellow pacers Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson claimed two wickets each, while warhorse James Anderson and captain Ben Stokes struck once in their spells.

However, the highlight of Australia's innings from Day 4 was Nathan Lyon's unexpected arrival in the middle. The 100-Test veteran battled right-calf injury pain and a rampaging Broad for a brief 15 minutes to add 15 crucial runs with fellow tailender Mitchell Starc.

Lyon's heroic arrival and expected departure from the crease were met with much applause from the London crowd, considering the injury he sustained on Day 2 will likely end his Ashes 2023 campaign midway after the ongoing Test.



Starc, Cummins rattle England’s top-order

In quest of a series-levelling win, England were rattled early by Australia's new-ball agents Mitchell Starc and captain Pat Cummins. The fiery speedsters jolted the English top order with two wickets each within the opening hour of the run-chase.

While Starc removed opener Zak Crawley and number three Ollie Pope, his skipper got dangermen Joe Root and Harry Brook.

Their sublime opening gambits even forced England to ponder over their year-long 'BazBall' ideology before the two Ben's, Duckett and captain Stokes, steered hosts to recovery with calculated run-making.  

The two batters guided England till stumps without further casualty and will resume on the final day in a hunt of 257 more runs for a win.


Brief Scores

Australia: 416 (100.4)
Steve Smith 110 (184), Travis Head 77 (73)
Josh Tongue 3-98 (22), Ollie Robinson 3-100 (24.4)

England: 325 (76.2)
Ben Duckett 98 (134), Harry Brook 50 (68)
Mitchell Starc 3-88 (17), Travis Head 2-17 (7)

Australia: 279 (101.5)
Usman Khawaja 77 (187), Steve Smith 34 (62)
Stuart Broad 4-65 (24.5), Ollie Robinson 2-48 (26)

England: 114-4 (31)
Ben Duckett 50* (67), Ben Stokes 29* (66)
Pat Cummins 2-20 (8), Mitchell Starc 2-40 (10)

England need 257 runs to win.