Australia roared back into contention in the fourth Ashes Test on Monday thanks to an opening stand of 109 between David Warner and Chris Rogers, as the tourists chased down a target of 299 to beat England and stay alive in the series.
England’s grip on the match appeared secure after their tail went on the attack before lunch, smashing 96 runs in the face of a career-best bowling display by Ryan Harris (7-117) before being dismissed for 330. However, Rogers (49) and Warner (57 not out) produced Australia’s best first-wicket partnership of the series either side of a 70-minute rain delay to leave them 120-1 at tea.
Rogers fell to Graeme Swann just before tea to give renewed hope to England, whose lead was 179 runs. The pitch doesn’t appear to be offering England much assistance at Chester-le-Street - and neither is Warner, who has struck nine boundaries in his highest score of a truncated series for Australia’s bad-boy opener.
While the knock of Rogers, was all about placement, Warner’s was all about power. He smashed Swann for a stunning six over extra cover in the third ball of the offspinner’s spell and produced a brilliant uppercut shot for four off Stuart Broad on the way to passing 50 off 74 balls. Rogers’ luck ran out when he played back to Swann and edged to Jonathan Trott at slip.
Usman Khawaja was with Warner at the crease on 6. Shane Watson is available to bat, despite injuring his hip/groin while bowling on Sunday. Few were giving the tourists a chance after an absorbing end to England’s innings after the team resumed on 234-5, with Bresnan (45) and Swann (30 not out) both clattering six boundaries.
In between times, Harris came steaming in to become the first Australian since Shane Warne in 2001 to take seven wickets in an Ashes innings. Not even Ian Bell — an overnight centurion and in the form of his life — could cope with the pace and aggression of Harris, adding eight runs before playing on to his stumps for 113. Harris, fully recovered from a string of injury setbacks, stayed on his nagging line to snag Matt Prior the very next ball in similar circumstances, this time the delivery striking the wicketkeeper’s elbow and knocking off the bails.
Stuart Broad survived the hat-trick ball with a good defensive stroke but failed to adequately fend off a fierce Harris bouncer, the ball looping up straight into the hands of Steve Smith at gully for 13. That was three wickets in 11 balls for Harris but Bresnan remained resolute at the other end, hitting three boundaries in a row off Jackson Bird as England smashed 60 off the first 10 overs of the morning.
Bresnan was then caught and bowled by Harris but Swann took over the big-hitting before Anderson (0) was last man out, edging Nathan lyon behind to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Brief Scores Eng: 238 and 330 (Bell 113; Harris 7/117) lead Aus: 270 and 120/1 (Warner 57 no, Rogers 49; Swann 1/33) by 178 runs at tea on Day 4.