Ashes 2017-18, 5th Test, Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

Australia will want to impose harder on day 4 and take cruise control of the game.

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Shaun Marsh
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Shaun Marsh of Australia celebrates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Day 3 started with Australia evenly poised at 193/2, having reduced the deficit to 153. The morning although witnessed a bit of action, the rest of the day turned out to be a rather one-sided affair as the hosts dominated with the willow. England picked up just two wickets on the third day, and any joy they had ended midway through the first session when they removed Steve Smith short of what seemed a certain century.

Smith looked comfortable as he made a serene progress to 83 but ended up getting dismissed off Moeen Ali delivery after sending the ball back to the bowler’s hands. Soon enough things quickly went downhill as they cost themselves a second wicket when debutant leg-spinner Mason Crane overstepped in an eventful third morning.

1. Smith-Khawaja partnership

The massive 188-run partnership between Smith and Khawaja changed the dynamic of the game. Although it looked like the partnership would reach the 200 mark, albeit a miscued hit from Smith which ended the ball in the bowler’s arms and brought a premature end to the flamboyant partnership.

2. Khawaja’s big daddy hundred

Resuming day 3 at the SCG on 91, Khawaja looked at ease against the spin of Moeen Ali and brought up his hundred when he cut Moeen for two in the eighth over of Saturday morning.

Khawaja’s sixth Test century marks his first since November 2016 and should alleviate the pressure on him ahead of March’s four-Test away series against South Africa. The century also marked Khawaja’s maiden Test ton in his childhood hometown of Sydney.

His ton helped end any debate about his spot in the Australian Test, with the ton his first in Test cricket in more than a year.

3. Marsh brothers hammer England

The Marsh brothers put up an incredible exhibition with the willow to guide Australia on top. Shaun and Mitchell Marsh continued the Aussie run spree to extend home side’s lead to 133 runs. The duo put on a century stand to extend Australia’s advantage in the fifth Magellan Ashes Test and further demoralize a frustrated England bowling attack.

Shaun Marsh finished unbeaten on 98, with younger brother Mitchell Marsh unbeaten on 63, as Australia finished on 4-479.

4. English bowlers toil hard

England managed to pick up just two wickets on the third day. The only positive was when Moeen Ali took out Steve Smith short of what seemed a certain century. The Lions’ bowlers had to toil extremely hard only to watch it go in vain. And their figures serve as a testament to the fact.

Debutant leg-spinner Mason Crane overstepped in an eventful third morning to deny himself the wicket of Usman Khwaja. Ali and Crane could manage one wicket each, with regular seamers Anderson and Start Broad failing to deliver any wickets.

5. Australia in cruise control of the game

After facing a bit of challenge from the English tail-enders early on Day 2, the Steve Smith-led side will be happy the way they are currently poised. The top and especially the middle order has made irreplaceable contributions and will aim to keep the momentum going.

The hosts will look to keep batting and establish a bigger lead in a bid to end the Ashes series on a high. The Marsh brothers are currently unbeaten and will open Day 4 as they aim to extend Australia’s lead. Australia is leading the five-Test series 3-0.

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