Anderson’s injury is turning point as England let Aussies off hook after morning rampage

WILSON Smith as they left the field – England’s openers having survived two overs at 10-0 in reply – the home side had Stuart Broad to thank for answering a huge emergency call. The 33-year-old shone once more on the biggest stage with 5-86 as he put in a gruelling shift alongside Chris Woakes, whose 3-58 also helped picked up the slack left by Anderson’s injury. Broad, in particular, provided the perfect response to those who had questioned whether he still possessed the ability to tap into that irresistible momentum UMPIRES Joel Wilson and Aleem Dar, above, showed it is

Gave James Pattinson out lbw and he didn’t review – Hawk-Eye showed it was missing. which has marked his career. The answer was emphatic.

Bowling full and making clever use of off-cutters, Broad, right, used all his experience to get the ball moving laterally, trapping David Warner in front in his second over and Cameron Bancroft in his fourth.

He returned after lunch to claim another two scalps in an eight-over second spell. Smith – along with the openers the remaining member of the ball-tampering trio from that Cape Town conspiracy in March 2018 – eluded him, though.

At least until the final ball of the Australia innings, by which time early elation had given way to tiredness and a feeling that, from 122-8, England had let the tourists off the hook.

Such an early statement of intent has been delivered by Smith before. In Brisbane in 2017, it was his unbeaten 141 that defied the England bowlers and set a tone for the series. Here his contribution started at 17-2 and saw Australia to higher ground. Whether it will be high enough, we will find out