Australia and England tussle for superiority at the MCG, with the hosts favourites going in to day four after English batting collapse…
The great rivals played out a topsy turvy third day of the fourth test at the MCG, as England tried desperately to win back some of the pride lost in the opening three test matches.
Another horrendous batting collapse though means the hosts are favourites with two days play remaining.
Australia need 201 more runs to win, after being set an achievable 231 target by the visitors, who were all out for 179 in their second innings.
England managed to take Australia’s final wicket of their first innings fairly early on, giving them a 51 lead going into the second innings. Captain Alistair Cook started especially well, and put on 67 with opener Michael Carberry for the first wicket.
Then though, Australia’s bowlers snatched momentum, taking four wickets for just 22 runs leaving England on 87-4 at one point, before they went in to tea on 115-4.
Johnny Bairstow and Ben Stokes provided Kevin Pietersen with some support, but the tourists would have been very disappointed with the way they lost their last five wickets for just five runs.
In reply, Australia immediately made their job in the coming days far easier, racking up 30-0 at stumps.
England’s bowlers have it all to do if England are to salvage anything from the fourth test at the MCG…
You can watch highlights of the third day, here:
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