England needs a miracle to win the first Ashes Test against Australia but Shane Warne believes that the tourists aren’t dead and burried yet at the Gabba.
On day two, Travis Head blasted the third-fastest century in Ashes history to crush England hopes, as Australia reached stumps with a lead of 196.
Australia is now 7-362 after 89 overs with Head and Mitchell Starc at the crease.
Follow the action in our live blog below!
Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. Join now for just $5 for 2-months Kayo Basic. New customers only, ends 13th Dec.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs England, day three, live scoreboard, stats
MORE CRICKET NEWS
TALKING POINTS: Poms in spin as one mistake creates more; worrying sign for Smith
‘COMPLETELY WRONG’: ‘hospital pass’ could backfire even more — UK View
‘HORRIBLY DAMAGING’: Head silences critics as England stars fall like flies
‘WOULD’VE BEEN NICE’: England complains about Stokes’ no-ball disaster
But Warne said before play on Friday that Australia must keep the champagne on ice despite the possibility of an innings victory.
“England haven’t won a session so far. But they can turn it around today by getting the last three wickets and then batting big.
“Pitch at its best for batting today.”
But fellow Australia legend Allan Border isn’t so sure.
“It could be (over today),” he said on Fox Cricket. “When you think about it, Australia have got three wickets in the shed. I don’t think there will be any declaration so they will just keep going as long as they can.
“Let’s say they get to lunch, there will be a very big lead and still 60-plus overs left to play – and that’s ample time to lose 10 wickets. The game could be over today.”
He added: “You expect the surface will be at its best today. The sun is shining, there should be moisture coming out of the track. It’s got good coverage, yes, but once you get through that new ball it should be a great place to bat.
“No real excuses from England’s point of view but Mark Waugh has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons and called the end of the game after day three which the Aussies would take for sure.”
Meanwhile, Warne touched on the fitness of Ollie Robinson who was England’s star bowler on day two with three wickets.
But despite impressing, his pace severely dropped off in the final session leaving England without a key weapon.
“I thought Robinson looked great but as we said yesterday morning, his fitness is a real issue,” Warne said.
“And the England camp always said last year that it was worried about him late in the day, he generally starts off well and tires — and we saw that yesterday too.”
HOW TO WATCH
Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. Join now for just $5 for 2-months Kayo Basic. New customers only, ends 13th Dec.
AUSTRALIA XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
ENGLAND XI: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach
Follow Day 3 of the First Ashes Test in our live blog below!
Play resumes on day three at 10:30AM EDT with Head on 112 alongside Mitchell Starc on 10.
Now Australia are out to capitalise on an England side with star all-rounder Ben Stokes injured and likely unable to bowl for the remainder of the Test. Wisden editor Lawrence Booth wrote for England’s Daily Mail: “On this evidence, he is more hindrance than help.”
Fellow seamer Ollie Robinson pulled up with a hamstring injury late in the day, the status of which is unclear, while spinner Jack Leach “potentially bowled himself out of the series” after being smashed for 95 runs in 11 overs by the Australian batters.
Booth summed it up in brutal fashion: “This series is only two days old, but already England look a rabble.”
The injuries shone a spotlight on England’s decision to only play three seamers and leave Stuart Broad on the sidelines.
“Veteran cricket writer Scyld Berry of The Telegraph wrote: “Joe Root has got it completely wrong”.
“England had to pick four seamers, plus Stokes and Root, whether they bowled first or second,” he wrote.
“It was miraculous in these conditions that Wood did not break down during his 20 overs.
Australian Test great Ian Chapell, meanwhile, blasted England and questioned whether they had the stomach for the fight.
“If England don’t bounce back quickly in Adelaide, then you’ve got to be thinking 5-0 to Australia,” he told ABC Grandstand.
“You’ve got to see the heart for the fight from England, and that’s what we haven’t seen.
“We didn’t see it when England batted, apart from a little bit, and we didn’t see it as things started to fall apart with the bowling.
“That’s what’s always bothered me about this England team [and] it still bothers me.”