Summary

  • England chasing record 354 to win

  • Root 67*, Woakes 5*

  • Malan falls for 29 late on thrilling day

  • Root dropped on 56, overturns lbw on 32

  • Aus 138: Anderson 5-43, Woakes 4-36

  • England trail 1-0 in five-Test series

  • Play starts at 03:30 GMT on Wednesday

  1. Postpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Right.

    That is that for day four.

    Dip into the BBC Cricket site for:

    Stephan Shemilt's report from Adelaide

    TMS highlights

    And later we will have the latest Pint-sized Ashes and the Jonathan Agnew column.

    Until later, thanks for reading and for contributing.

    We will leave you with a poem from #bbccricket , externalcontributor Jonathan Clark:

    When I go to be bed tonight

    Excited as can be

    In the hope that when I wake up

    The present under tree

    Is a sad Steve Smith satsuma

    No Follow on he's fuming

    And a gleeful big pink grapefruit

    Grin of Captain Kidd Joe Root

  2. Fifth-day plannerpublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Right, got your diaries handy?

    • Play re-starts at 03:30 GMT
    • The BBC live text kicks in at 03:00 GMT
    • TMS begins at 03:15 GMT

    Cancel sleep.

  3. Listen: Anderson claims first five-wicket haul in Australiapublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    England's James Anderson takes the wicket of Mitchell Starc as the fast bowler picks up his first ever five-wicket haul in Australia on day four of the second Ashes Test.

    Read More
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    Shaun Byrne: Hero - Smith, followed on (pun intended) from yesterday to help get us back into the game.

    Moment - Overton diving catch

    Comedy - Root laughing as the Barmy Army made review signals to the Aussies

    Prediction - England collapse leaving Jimmy to hit the winning runs.

  5. Looking ahead to day fivepublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Joe RootImage source, EPA

    OK, so Joe Root won't need to reproduce an Atherton '95 Jo'burg innings, but he'll need a sliver of the ex-skipper's guts to keep his wicket because Australia will throw everything, including the Harbour Bridge, on Wednesday.

    Today, Alastair Cook (16) and Mark Stoneman (36) got England off to a steady start, before they fell in quick succession. For Cook that's now only 62 in four innings.

    That should have had tourists rocking, but Jamie Vince and especially Dawid Malan were good support acts for the rock Root as the visitors steadied the good ship England.

    A big moment came with the score at 108-3 when the Aussies thought they had Malan out, but the review deemed the ball would have been high. That was the last of the Australia reviews. Downer!

    Malan finally went after a peach of a delivery from Pat Cummins that cut between bat and pad. In came, night-watchman Chris Woakes who somehow defended a missile from Cummins that would have take his toe off.

    If both he and Root cope with the first-hour barrage then England will definitely fancy their chances of making the 10th highest run-chase in the history of Test cricket.

  6. Postpublished at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    England will break all of the record books if they win but they go into day five with a sniff and it comes down to the England captain.

  7. Postpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    What an amazing Test. It was just an amazing day - really good for England. They've somehow manufactured a chance. It's been enthralling, every ball. I've been down walking around the ground - everyone is on the edge of their seats lapping up the tension.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    James Levy: Hero has to be Joe Root, a captain's innings which has kept us in with a sniff Moment of the day: Root overturning his dismissal on review. Could be the single most important review of the series

  9. 'We know we can fight'published at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    England's James Anderson on BT Sport: "Very happy. We did a lot of good stuff last night. We wanted to bowl them out and all of the bowlers did fantastically well. Today it was my day.

    "Three down at the close would have been amazing. Losing Dawid was tough, but absolutely we'd take this after the first innings.

    "Going with Chris Woakes as nightwatchman was the sensible option. He's a proper batsmen - hopefully he can get something going with Joe tomorrow.

    "There's never been that doubt in our dressing room. We know we can fight. After the first two innings, we were really frustrated - and there was a bit of anger. We've done ourselves proud."

  10. Postpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Here's more from Jimmy...

  11. So, you're suggesting that...published at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    .Image source, .

    I'm going for a draw.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    James Doe: Hero of the day: James Anderson. Not even a question.

    Moment of the day: Craig Overton’s brilliant catch to get Paine out.

    Comedy moment of the day: Root’s world class leave from Lyon.

    Prediction: Head says Australia by 100+. Heart says England by one wicket.

  13. 'England bowled particularly well'published at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    More from David Saker on TMS: "Steve Smith obviously thought the bowlers needed some rest, and probably wanted to get some overs in the opposition. Things like that will have been going through his mind.

    I thought they bowled particularly well and some of our methods weren't perfect. They put the ball in the right areas which made it difficult. This morning, another 30 or 40 runs would have made it more comfortable, but the wicket wasn't easy to score on. When you put it in the right areas, it’s tough to score. Both teams have found that."

  14. 'Cummins has been the best fast bowler in this game'published at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Pat CumminsImage source, EPA

    Australia bowling coach David Saker, speaking to TMS: We've got a hell of a game haven’t we? It’s turned quite quickly but we’re still in the ascendancy. Joe’s innings was special but if we go bang-bang in the morning, we’re well on top.

    Malan was a huge wicket for the team. Pat Cummins really deserves it. He’s been the best fast bowler in this game. A really good reward for us, but for him in particular. Tomorrow he’ll be a really important player for us

    Tomorrow will be very nervy from where I’m sitting. It’s easier to be a player in those situations. It’s set up for a fantastic game of cricket.

    Cummins has taken three wickets in the match, but has arguably looked the most threatening of the Aussie quicks and was unlucky not to take the wicket of Woakes near the death

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Colin Lawton: Might have to phone in work sick to watch this tomorrow

    Probably best not to tweet that Colin, nor allow for it to be published to a few million

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    This is what we are looking for from the great BBC-reading public:

    Your:

    • Hero of the day
    • Moment of the day
    • Comedy moment of the day - Barmy Army taunting with review signals after the Aussies had lost all their reviews? Well, I found that funny.
    • Prediction
  17. Pretty with pinkpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    James AndersonImage source, Getty Images

    Anderson helped ensure that England had a sniff of chance going into the final day.

    The veteran bowler took 5-43 - his first fiver in Oz - and Chris Woakes took 4-36 as Australia were skittled for 138 having started the day on 53-4. Their worst total at the ground since 1955 - before some of you lot were born!!

    Only Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc managed to hit 20 for the home side.

    England's Craig Overton, who scored a cracking 41 in the first innings, pulled off a brilliant catch in the gully to remove the final wicket of Josh Hazlewood.

  18. 'It's a case of being ruthless'published at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    BBC Test Match Special

    James Anderson on his first five-wicket haul in Australia: "It is great. I might not have done it without the pink ball so I have quite a lot to thank that for. I have had some success [in Australia] on certain tours and struggled on others at times so it is nice to finally get that five-wicket haul in conditions that are not suited to my bowling.

    Asked if he knew England require their highest fourth innings run chase in Tests, Anderson said: "I do now. We knew we would have to chase a big total and it would always be a big ask but we know the pitch is good to bat on. It is a case of building partnerships and being ruthless."

    On the possibility of having to bat tomorrow, Anderson said: "I have tried not to think about it. If we need 10 or 15 I don't mind giving it a go. If we need anymore, I think we are struggling."

  19. Postpublished at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Saj, what did James Anderson have to say about the drama that unfolded in front of our very eyes at Adelaide?

  20. BBC coveragepublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Hey all - remember when England were heading for certain defeat? Heady.

    Anyway, we will have more reaction from both camps and analysts on another fascinating day's play.

    Meanwhile:

    You can read Stephan Shemilt's report, right now.

    You will be soon able to listen back to TMS' coverage of day four if you click here.