Ashes in a nutshell: All you need to know from day four in Adelaide
England close on 176-4, needing another 178 to win, with captain Joe Root unbeaten on 67
Wednesday 6 December 2017 05:48, UK
Jimmy Anderson's first five-for in Australia gives England a glimmer and hope remains as Joe Root leads the tourists halfway to a record chase. All you need to know from day four in Adelaide...
REPORT
England require a further 178 runs for victory with six wickets remaining after captain Joe Root's unbeaten 67 on day four kept his side's hopes of an improbable victory in Adelaide alive.
WHAT THEY SAID
James Anderson, England vice-captain talking to BT Sport: "I think we did a lot of good work last night under the lights, we didn't think it would do as much today and it didn't, but we pitched it up and caused them as many problems as possible.
"We knew that they would try to be aggressive at times and set up a big score and a declaration but we wanted to bowl them out. I thought all the bowlers did fantastically well.
"Obviously it could have been a lot better for us. Three down would have been amazing - losing Dawid [Malan] at the end there was tough - but we would have taken this position after the first innings after we batted and bowled poorly."
MOMENT OF THE DAY
With England three down and still needing more than 250 for victory, Root got himself into a bit of a tangle and opted to leave a Nathan Lyon delivery.
The ball thumped into his back leg, the Aussies appealed and up went the umpire's finger. The England captain reviewed but when the ball was shown to be pitching in line, it looked like Root would be on his way.
However, DRS suggested the ball was going over the top. Root survived, and turned the 32 he was on at the time into an unbeaten 67 at stumps while Australia soon lost the first of two potentially crucial reviews, the second vanishing soon after - much to the delight of the Barmy Army.
STAT OF THE DAY
Australia's second innings of 138 is the highest Test total in history without an individual score of more than 20. The previous record belonged to Bangladesh who made 134 against Pakistan at Multan in 2001.
TWEETS OF THE DAY
England's new ball pair are in exulted company and between them are close to overtaking a great Windies duo...
The former England captain has a good overall record against spin but has really struggled against Australia's GOAT...
It was left to his successor to keep England in the hunt for the most unlikely of wins and another former England skipper kept it simple it sounding his approval...
WATCH: ATHERS' ASHES REVIEW
