“There’s light at the end of the tunnel”: Root, Malan claw England back into the second Test
Joe Root and Dawid Malan have dragged England back into the second Test after both batted through the first session on Day 3.
England’s no.3 and 4 started the day with their side down by 456 runs and were in a perilous position at 2/17, however, as they did in the first Test, clawed the tourists back into the clash when hope was minimal.
Malan is on 68 and Root is on 57 at the Dinner break.
It’s Root’s 8th half-century in Australia, however he is yet to make a century in the country.
There were multiple edges that didn’t carry to the slips early in the session but it was relatively chance-free after that, as Root and Malan put the foot down and scored at a good rate.
Root’s side are now 333 runs behind as the duo both scored at solid strike rates of around 56 runs per 100 balls.
In comparison, of the four Australians to score a half-century, Warner scored the quickest when striking at 56, with no others above 50.
Damien Fleming believes the pitch is great for batting, but the Aussies will be able to smell blood in the water if they can take a prized wicket.
“We just saw the contrast in conditions with bowling late at night compared to bowling on a warm day on a pitch that is still offering some seam movement, you can definitely trust the bounce on this wicket,” he told SEN Test Cricket.
“(There’s also) two batsmen that are in fine form and complement each other.
“Root looking to get forward and drive through the ‘V’ as a right-hander, and then Malan, the left-hander, he sits back, he wants to hit square of the wicket, he played some beautiful cut shots, couple of really good pull shots.
“So Australia, they’ll have to work on their plans, this next session is generally best for batting, so I think Nathan Lyon for the Aussies will be hoping can snare a couple of wickets.
“They’ll take this momentum, but the Aussies will know (that) Day 4 at the Gabba they got one of these batsmen out and everyone fell pretty quickly after that.”
Chris Rogers found another benefit of England surviving the first session without losing a wicket.
“Just on England, the thing they’ve done now is it’s almost 100 per cent sure this day is going to go into Day 5 now,” he said.
“Even if they were to collapse in a little bit of a heap, you’d think Australia will decide they’re going to bat and bat deep into tomorrow so they can have England under lights when they come out to bat.
“So that means England will have that chance to play into Day 5, so there’s light at the end of the tunnel either way.
“Either they’re going to be trying to chase down a victory or potentially holding out for a draw.”
The first Test in Brisbane did not get to Day 5 after an English collapse on Day 4 gave Australia an easy victory.