Bowlers set up Australia for big Gabba win ECB questions Bairstow over alleged Bancroft headbutt incident
ON THE CUSP Set 170 for win, Warner, Bancroft take hosts to 114/0 at end of Day 4
BRISBANE: Australia are closing in on a comprehensive first-test win after David Warner and Cameron Bancroft moved the Ashes hosts within 56 runs of beating England at stumps on day four. After a mixture of fine bowling and an England collapse set Australia a target of 170 before tea in Brisbane, openers Warner (60 not out) and Bancroft (51 not out) handled the tourists with relative ease.
Warner brought up his 25th Test fifty, while debutant Bancroft hit a maiden half-century to guide Australia to 114 without loss at the Gabba.
Nathan Lyon (3-67), Mitchell Starc (3-51) and Josh Hazlewood (3-46) piled the pressure on the tourists, who were bowled out for 195 in their second innings, having been on the end of a contentious DRS decision involving Moeen Ali as captain Joe Root (51) was the only England batsman to make a half-century.
Closing in on a half-century, Moeen (40) – who had looked comfortable in the middle alongside Jonny Bairstow (42) post-lunch – reluctantly walked back to the pavilion after a close call from third umpire Chris Gaffaney.
Some quick thinking and outstanding glove work from Tim Paine – a shock selection for his first Test since 2010 – resulted in a stumping after the umpire immediately called for a referral, though Moeen appeared unperturbed having lunged forward to a Lyon delivery.
But after numerous replays, Gaffaney felt Moeen’s foot was not behind the line, striking a big blow to England. Root (51) – cleared of concussion before play following a nasty blow to his helmet on Saturday – and Mark Stoneman (27) returned to the crease with England on 33-2 at the start of the day.
TESTING SPELL
The pair looked comfortable after surviving a testing spell late on day three, that was until Lyon was introduced into the attack.
Spinner Lyon combined with Steve Smith to dismiss Stoneman and Dawid Malan during the morning session, while Hazle- K Rabada (South Africa) R Herath (South Africa) wood claimed the prized scalp of Root.
Lyon – who celebrated taking 50 wickets in a calendar year for the first time – left England in a spin, drawing an edge from 10 11 54 52 20.96 27.53 3 5 Stoneman as Smith took a good catch at slip, and the duo came together again to send Malan (4) back to the pavilion.
Root posted his 33rd Test fifty but Hazlewood made a huge breakthrough by trapping the England captain lbw the delivery after he raised his bat as England went into lunch 119-5, a lead of only 93 runs.
England fell apart in the session prior to tea, collapsing to lose their final four wickets for just 10 runs.
After Moeen departed in a tight call, a red-hot Starc (3-51) also struck in quick succession to dismiss Chris Woakes (17), Bairstow (42) and Stuart Broad (2), while Pat Cummins (1-23) got the wicket of Jake Ball (1).
The Australia openers had no such trouble, Warner striking eight boundaries and the composed Bancroft launching Moeen for six in what became a onesided contest. takes 3 wickets and Cummins one to blow the tail away, the last four falling for only 10 runs, leaving Australia needing 170 to win. Oz are poised for 2nd highest successful Ashes chase at the Gabba (a target of 188 achieved in 1982/83).
(51) was the only England batsman to make a fifty as they folded for less than 200 after being 62/2, Starc (3/51), Hazlewood (3/46) and Lyon (3/67) doing the damage. It was the first time Moeen was stumped in international cricket. Moeen was looking well set, playing positively and using his feet well against Lyon. He was on his way in contentious fashion for 40 after Paine with some impressive glove work stumped the left-hander, who was deceived by a Lyon delivery which turned sharply. Third umpire Gaffaney ruled that the all-rounder’s foot was not behind the line, reducing England to 155/6. They could only add another 40 runs for the last four wickets. England skipper Root averages 48.63 versus Australia in second innings. He averages 38.09 in his second visit to the crease against other teams. Bancroft (51 not out) made a maiden Test half-century and Warner was unbeaten on 60, with Australia
114 without loss and on the verge of a crushing win. James Anderson’s bowling average in the 4th innings vs Oz is 65.57. BRISBANE: The ECB has spoken to Jonny Bairstow over allegations he head-butted Australia opener Cameron Bancroft in a late-night altercation. Fox Sports said Bairstow was being investigated by the ECB over an incident that took place in Perth, Australia at the start of their Ashes tour.
The incident allegedly took place at a hotel while the England team was in town for its touropening match against a Western Australian XI, the report said.
While nobody was said to be hurt in the incident it sparked heated confrontations on the field between Australian players and Bairstow when he was batting in the second innings of the first Test in Brisbane on Sunday.
An ECB statement confirmed management have asked Bairstow about the alleged incident. It said there was no report of any incident from the venue, security or police and no injury reported. The governing body plan to revisit the matter once the first Test is concluded.
“At close of play in Brisbane, we were made aware of allegations of an incident in Perth four weeks ago,” the statement read.
“There has been no report of any incident from the venue, security or police, and there was no injury reported.
“Following an initial conversation with Jonny Bairstow tonight, we understand the context and will follow up with England players and management after the Brisbane Test.”
Bairstow scored 42 as England were dismissed for 195, leaving Australia 170 runs to win the Gabba Test and who needed only 56 more runs on Monday’s final day of play.
Reports of the incident come as England await the results of a police inquiry into a fight involving star all-rounder Ben Stokes outside a Bristol nightclub in September.