Postpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special
Jonny Bairstow is in two minds about how he wants to play the spinner.
It's smart from Todd Murphy, mixing up his pace to keep him uncertain.
Summary
Broad announces he will retire after conclusion of final Ashes Test
England end day with a lead of 377
Hosts slip from 360-5 to 379-9 - losing four wickets for 19
Root (91) falls short of brilliant century
Bairstow (78) & Root add 110 in less than 25 overs
Root anchors middle order after loss of Stokes (42) and Brook (7)
Crawley makes 73 at top of order alongside Duckett (42)
Australia, who lead series 2-1, have retained Ashes
Postpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Eng 244-4published at 46 overs
Lead by 232
Good delivery from Todd Murphy as he beats the outside edge of Jonny Bairstow's bat.
Bairstow wasn't sure if he wanted to go forward or back there.
Eng 242-4published at 45 overs
Pat Cummins turns back to Todd Murphy as we edge further towards tea.
He has gone for runs but also took the key wicket of Ben Stokes.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
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Seeing the criticism after we lose a couple of wickets... people acting like a seam attack with 230+ Test wickets each aren't allowed to bowl good balls?
Adam, Oxford
Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match SpecialJonny Bairstow has just bludgeoned that. I noticed too that he just hit himself on the pad with his bat too, as if to keep himself fired up, because he knows how vital these runs are.
Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match SpecialA robust shot from Jonny Bairstow. A little bit of width and he capitalises on it.
He just loves it there.
Eng 240-4published at 44.1 overs
Shot! Jonny Bairstow has clubbed Josh Hazlewood through backward point for another four.
Does he have the Jonny eyes?
Postpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match SpecialIt's not quite as aesthetically pleasing as when Joe Root plays that shot - and I'm sure Jonny won't mind me saying that. But it's still just as effective.
Eng 236-4published at 44 overs
Root 58, Bairstow 8
Nice shot from Jonny Bairstow as he carves through point for his first boundary of the innings.
The lead is 224. This feels like an important 20 minutes until tea.
Postpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Bazball is just magic... most of the time, anyway!
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
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Matty Nunn: Get to a position of strength, throw it away. Rinse and repeat. Great cricket to watch but please can we be more ruthless! Only thing preventing this very good England team from being a great team.
I think we also have to give Australia some credit. How many times this series have we seen a team look set to dominate only to be pegged back?
Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, PA MediaIt was never going to be plain sailing, was it?
England could never just completely dominate. That wouldn't be entertaining enough!
Eng 230-4published at 43 overs
Lead by 218
Joe Root is offered some width and gleefully carves the ball away through the covers, though boundary rider Todd Murphy does well to prevent the four.
There is a nervous hum around The Oval.
We have just seen a shot of Moeen Ali padded up on the England balcony, so it looks like he will be next man in.
Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialIt's obvious but Joe Root is the key here.
He is world-class and he needs to use all his experience to get England through.
Eng 227-4published at 42 overs
England push three singles and a two from that Pat Cummins over.
They rebuilt well after losing Zak Crawley straight after lunch but just as they were looking to push on those two wickets mean have to do so all over again.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
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ZS: Stop. Letting. Them. Back. Into. It.
Easier said than done to be fair. That was a fine delivery from Hazlewood to remove Brook.
Eng 222-4published at 41 overs
Lead by 210
Still no Moeen Ali. Jonny Bairstow is the new batter and he sees off the end of a fine over by Josh Hazlewood.
Pat Cummins responds to those quick wickets by bringing himself back into the attack.
Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesIt may have just bounced a bit more than Harry Brook was expecting. He angled his bat as if he was trying to just guide it down to third man, get off strike for a single.
Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 29 July 2023
Daniel Norcross
BBC Test Match SpecialOh, that is a ripper from Josh Hazlewood.
I was just saying England aren't safe yet and they've just lost two quickly.
WICKETpublished at 40.5 overs
Brook c Carey b Hazlewood 7 (Eng 222-4)
Double nelson strikes!
That was a fine delivery from Josh Hazlewood as he again extracts some life out of the pitch and lures Harry Brook into a feather through to Alex Carey.
Two quick wickets have fallen and Australia are back in it.