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10.37pm on Dec 18, 2021
That’s a wrap
By
Thanks for joining today readers.
After a first session dominated by Joe Root and Dawid Malan, England once again crumbled, losing 4-19 at one stage to hand all the momentum back to Australia.
England will need a miracle to get back into this Test after Australia decided that batting again, rather than enforcing a follow-on, was the wisest decision after a day in the field.
Make sure you head to our mastheads for all the latest news and analysis from our reporters in Adelaide.
I’ll be back tomorrow once again in the blogging chair. Look forward to you joining again. Thanks for reading and sing out if there are any questions you have for our reporters about the state of play. Cheers!
10.29pm on Dec 18, 2021
Stumps: Australia lead by 282 runs
By
Ball one: left alone.
Ball two: a great delivery that spins away and beats the bat.
Ball three: blocked comfortably.
Ball four: patted back to Root. No run.
Ball five: blocked.
Ball six: blocked.
There it is. Australia make it to stumps having lost just the one wicket. Day three has belonged to the home side, thanks to some excellent bowling from the likes of Starc, Green and Lyon.
Anderson couldn’t snare a wicket on Saturday evening. Getty
10.25pm on Dec 18, 2021
One over to go in the day
By
Neser is trying to let everything he can go. He’s managed a cover drive for a couple of runs.
Harris to face the final over. It will be bowled by Joe Root.
Australia 1-45 from 16 overs, lead by 282 runs
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10.17pm on Dec 18, 2021
Warner is run out!
By
Oh dear. Late drama for the Australians, with David Warner run out for 13.
Harris squeezes a ball into the leg side and sets off for a run, only after hearing a yes call from Warner. Warner then turned around to go back to the non-striker’s end. Confusion has ensued, with Harris running through to pass Warner, leaving Australia’s senior opening partner walking back to the pavilion.
Warner punches his bat and isn’t a happy camper. Harris survives but Warner has to take responsibility for that.
Australia have sent debutant Michael Neser out as a nightwatchman.
Australia 1-41 after 14.1 overs
10.12pm on Dec 18, 2021
Australia 0-40 with four overs to go
By
It looks like play will finish just before 10pm local time (10:30pm AEDT).
If these two can get through to stumps, it will be a terrific achievement. We’ll never know how many wickets Australia could have taken under lights but the home side have all but taken an England win out of the equation.
The bookies have Australia at $1.20 to make it a 2-0 series lead.
After 10 tense overs, Warner and Harris have toughed it out. Australia will face 17 overs tonight.
England replace Anderson and Broad with Robinson and Woakes. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but surely England would be regretting their decision to leave out Mark Wood, who can bowl genuine thunderbolts around the 150km/h mark. Under lights he would be a nightmare to face.
England don’t take their only half chance so far. Woakes misses a throw at the stumps that would have sent Warner packing. Tough, but it could have been a big moment.
Harris needs a big score in the second innings.Getty
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9.47pm on Dec 18, 2021
Australia get through seven overs unscathed
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Warner and Harris have been very watchful and are letting go as many balls as they can. Anderson has gone for just two runs from four overs.
After two scores in the 90s, Warner will be desperate to go a little better and get to triple figures. He’s improved his overall Ashes average this series.
David Warner against England.Flourish
9.38pm on Dec 18, 2021
Baum: Joe digs in, but England uprooted after skipper nicks off
By Greg Baum
‘Rarely can a Test team’s standing have been so dependent on one man’s competence as England’s is on their captain, Joe Root. This was the status quo at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. While he was at the crease, England looked twice the team. Statistically, they are.
Root imposes himself by his craft, not his force of personality. He is the sum of the runs he makes, and this year they have been profuse.
There are no histrionics when he bats. He has a minimum of mannerisms at the crease. He doesn’t bristle like Virat Kohli. There is none of the habitual twitchiness of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. There are no flights of fancy at all. In this, he is not dissimilar to New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, a peer in so many ways. In a word, they are sensible.’
Harris gets off the mark with a couple of runs into the leg side. This will be a fascinating examination against the moving ball.
The official day three crowd is 27,613.
Australia 0-6
Broad receives medical attention after being hit on the chin by Jhye Richardson while batting. AP
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9.25pm on Dec 18, 2021
We’re back and Anderson has the ball nipping around!
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Jimmy Anderson will start us off. He’s coming over the wicket to Warner and goes away, away, away, IN!
The ball clips Warner’s pads and Australia get four leg byes. There is some away movement off the seam, that will keep Anderson interested, but his first over is too short.
It is imperative that England bowl as many balls as possible at Australia’s stumps, or at a fourth stump line.
If they don’t take wickets in the next hour, they can kiss this Test goodbye.
Australia 0-4, lead by 241 runs
What a beautiful sight the Adelaide Oval is. Getty