The fifth and final Ashes Test sits on a knife’s edge as day three at the Oval starts on Saturday (8pm AEST).
Australia looked to be in control at the start of day two against England but also encountered struggles with the bat before only narrowly surpassing the hosts’ first innings score by 12 runs.
England will be back at the crease on Saturday with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to start its second innings in London.
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How did Steve Smith survive this?! | 00:33
Australia would’ve been in strife if not for 71 runs scored by No.4 Steve Smith, who has been the subject of Test retirement rumours.
Smith addressed those after play on day two with an emphatic answer about his future.
“I’m not retiring,” Smith told reporters. “I have no idea (where it’s come from), because I haven’t said it to anyone. I am not going anywhere yet.”
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