Australia enters day four of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval needing a miracle to win the match and the series outright for the first time on English soil since 2001.
England reached stumps on day three 389-9 in their second innings with a commanding lead of 377 runs.
The hosts have a golden chance to level the Ashes series at 2-2, though there is a hint of rain on the forecast — but surely not enough to make any meaningful impact on proceedings.
A declaration could be made before play begins for the day.
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Joe Root (91) and Jonny Bairstow (78) were both in superb touch during a fifth-wicket stand of 110 as they put Australia’s bowlers to the sword.
A late flurry of wickets, with Mitchell Starc taking 4-94 after a pounding by England’s top order, gave Australia a glimmer of hope.
But some of the biggest cheers of the day came when last man James Anderson produced a cameo knock.
England’s advantage means Australia already have to achieve what would be the joint eighth-highest total to win in the fourth innings of a Test if they are to pull off an improbable victory.
The tourists still believe they can come out on top despite their daunting challenge.
“We knew England were going to come out today and put the pressure on us and they did, they batted really well, but we’re definitely still in the game,” said Todd Murphy.
Speaking of Murphy, the off-spinner has made the most of an injury to Nathan Lyon and given Australia a reason to believe in the future once the 35-year-old calls time on his career.
Murphy, who was recalled for the fifth Test after being left out of the team in Manchester, finished day three with figures of 3-110.
“It’s tough. The margin for error is a lot smaller over here,” Murphy told media in England, per AAP.
“It takes some time to get your head around the fact you’re going to concede a few more runs than you’re used to playing red-ball cricket.
“Once you can get your head around that, the message the whole way through has been to try to keep creating chances.”
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However, on Sunday all eyes will be on Australia’s batting unit as they look to chase down a commanding England total and write their names in the record books.
The highest successful Test run chase in England is 404, a feat achieved by Sir Donald Bradman’s Invincibles at Headingley in 1948.
Australia will be hoping for a different result to the first innings, where Steve Smith was its only player to pass a half-century as Marnus Labuschagne managed just nine runs from 82 balls.
Smith’s heroics and some strong performances from Australia’s tailenders didn’t mean much though given the team’s wayward bowling before the lunch.
It lead former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to describe Australia as “a bit all over the place”.
“I think what it has highlighted throughout the series is when you’ve got the new ball in hand, you’d better be ready to start and bowl your best delivery,” Ponting said on Sky Sports.
“If you don’t – as we saw today – there is a boundary off the first ball, then 13 off the first over and the pressure is suddenly on the bowlers.
“That’s what England are trying to do and create. Australia haven’t been ready.”
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Geoff Lemon, meanwhile, summed up Australia’s predicament perfectly in a column for The Guardian: “As the 2023 Ashes moved to within two days of its scheduled close, there was no escaping the reality for Australia that it was happening again. That feeling of being slapped around the chops, too dazed to get the thread of what to do next.”
“It must be so deflating for the opponent. It visibly was for Australia on this day. Imagine it: you graft and grind and absorb good bowling, you build partnerships, you see your lower order ride their luck, and putting all this together you secure a precious 12-run lead. Then the other team wipes it off in an over. They gallop past a hundred in a session, then flow on beyond it. What took you a day to assemble, they pass in a cruise.”
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