together at every necessary juncture to prevent a side pulling away. The frenetic burst of wickets on day one
to get the party started, the astonishing individual performance, the determined runs of a veteran. Then
England’s unlikely centurion, periods of distinct fortune both ways, two hardy fightbacks with the ball and a
second rally from bowlers when batting.
But for all those welcome early comparisons, there is one profound difference that will deny this series ever
competing with 2005, even if the results turn out to be a carbon copy. Then, two teams of legitimate
champions took the field. Not every participant was a superstar, but there were more than enough – a
perfect storm; old and new matchwinners everywhere. This isn’t that, not for Australia’s batting. They have
Steve Smith. There is Warner too, and others who have world-class tendencies, but for the remainder of this
Test, they have Smith.
From Australia’s position, if Smith is there for three hours on day four, with the same type of support he
received on Saturday’s evening session from Usman Khawaja and Travis Head, they will have turned a 90-
run first innings deficit into a lead near enough to 200. From England’s, if they can get rid of him early on
Sunday, they’re all-but skiing downhill to a one-nil series lead. It’s so rare that a Test’s fortunes can rest so
heavily on one innings that, at time of writing, is worth 46 runs, but that is the binary state of this game
right now.
Earlier, Tim Paine couldn’t have realistically imagined a better start to his weekend. On exactly 50 and
looking so daunting, Ben Stokes gave way to Pat Cummins – rewarded for relentlessly working his way back
into the game after a poor start the day before. That incision made, Nathan Lyon’s two wickets in an over
with contrasting delivery points – ragging one at Rory Burns then duping Moeen Ali with the one that
doesn’t turn – was a timely reminder that Australia’s best finger spinner gets to bowl last.
When Jonny Bairstow acquiesced to Pete Siddle, England were eight down with a lead of 16. They’d blown
it. But in keeping with the pattern of twists coming when the game needed them most, Chris Woakes was
joined by Stuart Broad and Australia lost their way across their 74-run stand.
Whether it was the decision of the captain or the quicks, they elected not to target Broad with a barrage of
short-pitched bowling, which has been a well-documented vulnerability for the England star since copping a
whack to the head back in 2014. Four short balls came his way in the first 30 he faced, but after that the
pressure was released with overs even coming from Smith himself.
When Cummins returned to the attack, he didn’t have a short leg as Broad prodded a bouncer there from
his 52nd ball. Deciding that enough was enough, he then bombed him seven times in a row, the final of
those finally doing the trip – Broad caught at long leg.
Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes‘ unlikely
partnership put England in a strong position
(Getty)